14 companies you didn't realize Disney owns (2024)

Advertisem*nt

21st Century Fox was bought by Disney last year.

Disney purchased 21st Century Fox for $71 billion in 2019 as it prepared to launch its Disney Plus streaming service. They acquired Fox's productions including "The Americans," ''This Is Us," and "Modern Family."

Disney later removed "Fox" from the name of 20th Century Foxmovie production studio.

As part of that deal, Disney took ownership of National Geographic, too.

National Geographic produces magazines, television shows, books, and documentaries about nature, wildlife, and travel. Disney acquired National Geographic when it bought 21st Century Fox.

Advertisem*nt

Disney also took over FX.

FX hosts shows such as "American Horror Story," "American Crime Story," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "Fargo." Disney gained ownership of FX when it bought 21st Century Fox.

It also owns the majority of Hulu.

Disney owned 30% of Hulu before the 21st Century Fox merger and now owns 60%. Comcast owns 30% and WarnerMedia owns the last 10%. Disney CEO Bob Iger hasn't ruled out combining Disney Plus, ESPN Plus, and Hulu into one streaming service.

Advertisem*nt

More than a decade before, Disney acquired the Muppets Studio.

Disney acquired the Muppets, along with "Bear in the Big Blue House," from The Jim Henson Company in 2004.

Advertisem*nt

Marvel joined the Disney family in 2009.

Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009. CEO Bob Iger wrote in his memoir, "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company," that some executives initially resisted acquiring Marvel because it was "too edgy" and "would tarnish the Disney brand."

The deal seems to have worked out for Disney. The MCU has grossed over $22.5 billion worldwide over 23 movies, and "Avengers: Endgame" beat out "Avatar" to become the biggest movie of all time with $2.8 billion globally.

Advertisem*nt

Disney also bought Lucasfilm that year.

Disney paid $4 billion to acquire Lucasfilm, which includes Star Wars and Indiana Jones, in 2012. They earned the money back with "The Force Awakens," "Rogue One," and "The Last Jedi," which grossed a collective $4.06 billion at the box office.

Disney bought ABC in the '90s.

In 1996, the Walt Disney Company bought Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion and renamed it ABC, Inc, bringing shows like "Grey's Anatomy," "The Bachelor," and "Dancing with the Stars" under the Disney umbrella.

Advertisem*nt

That deal meant that Disney also owns the majority of ESPN, too.

Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., which owns 80% of ESPN, was bought by Disney in 1996 for $19 billion, according to the New York Times.

Hearst Corporation owns the remaining 20% stake.

Advertisem*nt

Lifetime is part of A&E — and therefore part-owned by Disney.

Recent Lifetime movies have included "Harry and Meghan: Becoming Royal" and the docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly."

The History Channel also came as part of the A&E deal.

History is also a subsidiary of A&E with shows such as "American Pickers," "Vikings," and "Project Blue Book."

Advertisem*nt

Disney's venture capital arm invested in GoPro.

Steamboat Ventures, named for the 1928 Mickey Mouse cartoon "Steamboat Willie," invested an undisclosed amount in GoPro in 2013.

Disney Music Group, the music recording branch of the Walt Disney Studios, owns Hollywood Records.

Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by Michael Eisner, who was CEO of Disney at the time. Artists such as Demi Lovato, Queen, and Zendaya are currently signed with the label.

• Read more:
• All the new shows you can watch on Disney Plus — from 'The Mandalorian' to new Pixar shorts
• 11 of the wildest jobs you can have at Disney theme parks
• How to watch all the movies nominated for the 2020 Oscars