Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal (2024)

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Once 21st Century Fox shareholders swap their holdings for Walt Disney Co. stock, Rupert Murdoch and his family will become the Burbank entertainment giant’s second largest shareholders, behind only mutual fund giant Vanguard.

The Murdochs’ roughly 4.4% stake would represent the largest position in Disney held by an individual or family since a trust controlled by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, trimmed its Disney stake from nearly 8% to about 4% early this year. Jobs had become Disney’s largest shareholder when he sold animation studio Pixar to Disney in 2006.

Powell Jobs, currently Disney’s No. 4 shareholder, would fall to fifth after the deal. Other major shareholders — mutual fund companies and other institutional investment managers — hold stakes in both firms and would see their combined positions little changed.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

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Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal (2024)

FAQs

What is the Disney deal with Murdoch? ›

But Iger found himself dragged into a bidding war by Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts, who offered Murdoch considerably more money. To clinch the deal, Disney ultimately agreed to pay $71.3 billion. (In addition, Disney assumed nearly $14 billion in Fox debt, according to company documents.)

Which family is the second largest Disney shareholder? ›

Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal. Once 21st Century Fox shareholders swap their holdings for Walt Disney Co. stock, Rupert Murdoch and his family will become the Burbank entertainment giant's second largest shareholders, behind only mutual fund giant Vanguard.

Who was the largest shareholder of Disney? ›

The top shareholders of Disney are Robert A. Iger, Christine M. McCarthy, Alan N.
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Diversity & Inclusiveness of Disney
  • CNN Business. ...
  • WhaleWisdom. ...
  • Vanguard Group Inc. ...
  • ETF.com. ...
  • BlackRock Inc. ...
  • ETF.com. ...
  • State Street Corp. ...
  • ETF.com. "SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust."
Nov 26, 2022

What do Fox shareholders get from Disney deal? ›

The overall compensation is 50% cash and 50% stock, with a “collar” ensuring that shareholders get at least $38 per share in value if the average Disney stock price at closing is between $93.53 and $114.32.

Which Murdoch is in charge of Fox? ›

Rupert Murdoch is Chair of Fox Corporation and Executive Chairman of News Corp, two of the most recognized and influential media companies in the world. Mr.

How much of Fox does the Murdoch family own? ›

The company is controlled by the Murdoch family via a family trust with 39.6% ownership share. U.S. Rupert Murdoch is chair, while his son Lachlan Murdoch is executive chair and CEO.

Why doesn't the Disney family own Disney? ›

The Disney family has not been involved in managing Disney since their father, Roy E. Disney, stepped down from the board in 2003 and led a shareholder revolt that resulted in Mr. Iger's ascension. Roy E.

How much of Disney is still owned by the family? ›

Abigail's brother, Roy P., said in an interview that by 1960, Walt and Roy O. owned about 20% of the company. Today, the family owns less than 3% of the company. Roy P. is an investor, according to the interview.

Who owns Disney now 2023? ›

In short: Disney is owned by the shareholders - which means even you can be a part owner of The Walt Disney Company!

Does any of the Disney family own Disney? ›

According to Walt Disney's grand-nephew, Roy Patrick Disney, Walt and Roy owned about 20% of the company by 1960 and today the whole family owns less than 3% of it. Most of the family has stayed out of the business.

Who sold their company to Disney for $4 billion? ›

In 2009, Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment and its 5,000 characters for $4 billion. Just three years later, former Disney CEO Bob Iger struck again by acquiring Lucasfilm, the studio behind the massive Star Wars empire, from George Lucas for $4 billion.

Who owns Disney after Walt died? ›

Roy Oliver Disney was, with his younger brother Walter Disney, the co-founder of what is now The Walt Disney Company. After Walt died, Roy became the chairman of the company. Roy served as the company's chief executive officer ?

Does the Murdoch family own Disney? ›

(Filings with the SEC expected at a later date should provide more detail on Murdoch's holdings.) Assuming he took all stock from the Disney deal, Murdoch now owns $10.5 billion worth of Disney stock. His 39% stake of the new Fox Corporation is worth $4.2 billion.

What are the benefits of the Disney Fox merger? ›

Colloquially referred to as the “Streaming Apocalypse”, the merger has allowed Disney to gain a further 30 per cent of streaming service Hulu, giving it a controlling stake of 60 per cent, and access to Fox's back-catalogue of movies.

What the Disney Fox merger means for consumers? ›

“The acquisition of this stellar collection of businesses from 21st Century Fox reflects the increasing consumer demand for a rich diversity of entertainment experiences that are more compelling, accessible and convenient than ever before,” he said in a statement.

Is Succession based on Murdoch family? ›

That's partly because the Succession writers are experts at satirizing our supremely weird media and political climate, and partly because the HBO show heavily draws on all the business and family drama surrounding Rupert Murdoch (along with a variety of other media titans).

Who owns Murdoch family? ›

Rupert Murdoch, born in Melbourne, is a major international media proprietor – he chairs two United States-based companies that control most of his assets: News Corp and Fox Corporation. Murdoch's career as a media proprietor began in 1952, when he inherited his father's stake in News Limited.

Is Succession based on the Trumps? ›

He's certainly not Donald Trump." Before Succession premiered, Jesse Armstrong, the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of the HBO hit, said that the characters are a fictional family. "There's loads of succession stories to draw on," he told Variety in 2018.

Who owns the most shares of Fox News? ›

Fox Corporation is a news, sports, and entertainment company.
...
2022.
NameEquities%
Murdoch Family Trust102,207,82643.0%
The Vanguard Group, Inc.15,794,3146.65%
Dodge & Cox11,669,6784.91%
Yacktman Asset Management LP8,736,3503.68%
6 more rows

Did the Murdoch family sell Fox News? ›

Fox Corporation owns Fox News. Fox Corporation is controlled and owned primarily by the Murdoch family.

Is Rupert Murdoch one of the richest people in the world? ›

He was also the owner of Sky (until 2018), 21st Century Fox (until 2019), and the now-defunct News of the World. With a net worth of US$21.7 billion as of 2 March 2022, Murdoch is the 31st richest person in the United States and the 71st richest in the world according to Forbes magazine.

Is the Disney family still wealthy? ›

It's not known just how much the Disney family is worth. GOBankingRates estimated the company's net worth to be roughly $130 billion. Roy O.'s grandson, Roy P., said at one point that the family owns less than 3% of the company.

Does any of the Disney family still work for Disney? ›

Disney's siblings, Susan Disney Lord and Tim Disney, are also executive producers on the film. The Disney family hasn't been involved in running the company since 2003.

Is anyone from the Disney family still involved in the company? ›

Roy's nephew Charles Elias Disney chose to name his son Charles Roy Disney in Roy's honor. Their son, Roy Edward Disney (January 10, 1930 – December 16, 2009), was a longtime senior executive for the Walt Disney Company and the last member of the Disney family to be actively involved in the company.

What percentage of Disney is owned by China? ›

Do shareholders know that The Walt Disney Company is engaged in a joint venture with the Chinese Communist Party that allows for the operation of the Shanghai Disney Resort? And it's not an equal split, by the way. Instead, the CCP has 57% ownership while Disney holds only 43% ownership.

How much of Florida is owned by Disney? ›

They can have their own lake with the amenities of a getaway spot.” While there's no official confirmation, it's estimated that Disney owns roughly 30,000 acres in Central Florida.

Who actually owns Disney? ›

Although it was a private company initially owned by two brothers, it has since expanded thanks to its IPO back in 1955. Today, the Walt Disney Company is owned by a multitude of individual and institutional investors who've brought a ton of resources, and accountability to this brand.

What percentage of Disney is owned by Black Rock? ›

2023-02-07 - BlackRock Inc. has filed an SC 13G/A form with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing ownership of 120,970,214 shares of Walt Disney Co (The) (US:DIS). This represents 6.6 percent ownership of the company.

What is Disney getting rid of in 2023? ›

As many of you already know, Splash Mountain permanently closed on January 23rd, 2023. Although we were sad to say goodbye, the same flume-type ride is currently being reimagined to become Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which is set to open in late 2024!

How much do Disney World cast members get paid? ›

Cast Members will be receiving a minimum wage of $17/hour now, with $18/hour by December. Back pay of $1 extra per hour since October 1, 2022 will also apply to Cast Members hired on or before that date.

What are 5 companies Disney owns? ›

Contents
  • 2.1.1 Film studios.
  • 2.1.2 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
  • 2.1.3 Disney Theatrical Group.
  • 2.1.4 Disney Music Group.
  • 2.1.5 Disney Studio Services.

How much does a CEO of Disney make? ›

That's in addition to the $24 million he made last year — his $2.5 million base salary plus millions in stock options and awards. That's down from the $32.5 million he made in 2021.

What company makes Disney the most money? ›

Disney's Linear Networks currently generates the most revenue, but its Parks, Experiences and Products business is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and currently generates the most profits.

What is the biggest money maker for Disney? ›

The company's biggest segment was its media and entertainment segment, which generated revenues of 55 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. This marks a growth from the 50.9 billion U.S. dollars of revenue generated in this segment in 2021.

Has Disney made back their money from Star Wars? ›

Recent reports revealed that Star Wars: The Force Awakens made Disney over half a billion dollars in total profits, making it the most profitable Star Wars movie. Some newly revealed financial statements from Disney suggest that the studio made an estimated $588.2 million in income from The Force Awakens.

What happened to Walt Disney's money when he died? ›

The Last Will and Testamenbt of Walt Disney left ½ of his wealth to his family and the other ½ to a charitable foundation for the arts.

Why did Fox sell out to Disney? ›

According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the idea of purchasing Fox's assets came after Disney acquired majority control of the streaming company BAMTech with anticipation to develop its own streaming service, which would eventually launch in November 2019 as Disney+.

Was the Disney Fox merger a success? ›

Disney's 2019 acquisition of Fox may have been a bad deal, a new report reveals. This comes after the success of 20th Century Studios' Avatar 2. Disney's absorption of Fox may have been a bad deal, as per a new report.

What if Disney never bought Fox? ›

20th Century Fox would still be owned by 21st Century Fox. The Simpsons and Family Guy wouldn't air on Freeform or be on Disney+. Blue Sky Studios would still be open, and would make more original films rather than sequels. Scrat would still be the studio's mascot.

How much debt does Disney have with Fox? ›

(In addition, Disney assumed nearly $14 billion in Fox debt, according to company documents.) Comcast building in Philadelphia. Comcast eventually wrangled one of Murdoch's assets, the European satellite TV service Sky. Comcast then paid Disney $15 billion for Fox's ownership stake in Sky.

Are there any benefits to owning Disney stock? ›

Discounts of 25%+ for overnight says in Disney Hotels. 15% off on 1 day Disney park passes as well as annual passes. 15% discount on products purchased in person in select Disney Stores. VIP cards, guided tours & concierge-like service.

Why Disney would want to buy Fox and what they gained from the purchase? ›

Buying up Fox's entertainment assets would provide Disney with even more intellectual property to develop, much as its done with other franchises including "Star Wars" and the Marvel universe.

Is Disney Fox merger closing? ›

(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co closed its $71 billion acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc's film and television assets on Wednesday, giving its upcoming streaming service a range of popular content as it takes on Netflix Inc.

How much did Disney pay for Fox merger? ›

Disney is also acquiring approximately $19.8 billion of cash and assuming approximately $19.2 billion of debt of 21st Century Fox in the acquisition. The acquisition price implies a total equity value of approximately $71 billion and a total transaction value of approximately $71 billion.

Does Murdoch own part of Disney? ›

(Filings with the SEC expected at a later date should provide more detail on Murdoch's holdings.) Assuming he took all stock from the Disney deal, Murdoch now owns $10.5 billion worth of Disney stock. His 39% stake of the new Fox Corporation is worth $4.2 billion.

Does James Murdoch work for Disney? ›

In July 2017, Murdoch became an independent director on the board of Tesla. In October 2018, Murdoch left Sky after Comcast took the majority control of the company. In March 2019, 21st Century Fox was sold to The Walt Disney Company, ending Murdoch's tenure as CEO.

Did James Murdoch go to Disney? ›

In recent weeks James Murdoch has begun to tell associates that he isn't going to Disney, according to people familiar with the matter. Disney in March announced a reorganization that positions two top executives as potential successors to Mr.

What HBO series is based on Murdoch? ›

But according to CNN, the Roys in “Succession” are most likely based on the Murdoch family, “the family of Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch.” Much like Logan, Murdoch has “always intended to pass down his company to one of his children,” but “has never named a successor” to his media conglomerate, News Corp.

Who owns Fox Disney? ›

The Walt Disney Company bought most of Mr. Murdoch's entertainment assets last year in a $71.3 billion deal. That included the 20th Century Fox studio and its art-house sibling, Fox Searchlight.

Does Disney technically own Fox News? ›

What doesn't Disney get? Fox Corp. is a new stand-alone company that comprises of the assets Disney didn't buy. It includes Fox News, Fox Sports, the Fox Network, and Fox TV stations.

Why doesn t Disney own Fox News? ›

Disney doesn't own Fox News. Fox News and several other Fox assets were spun off into a separate company, Fox Corporation, prior to Disney's merger with 21st Century Fox and was not part of that merger. Disney+ is a family-friendly entertainment platform, not a news platform.

How many TV companies does Disney own? ›

Through these divisions, Disney owns and operates the ABC broadcast network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic; publishing, merchandising, music, and theater divisions; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Disney+, Star+, ESPN+, Hulu, and Hotstar; and ...

Why did James Murdoch leave Fox? ›

“The idea, at my age, with a long career ahead of me, of going into a place where it's a big corporate structure. You don't really know what the future's going to hold. And the other side is absolute self-determination and agency. It was a pretty simple choice,” Murdoch told the New York Times.

Why did James Murdoch quit? ›

James Murdoch, the younger son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has resigned from the board of News Corporation citing "disagreements over editorial content". In a filing to US regulators, he said he also disagreed with some "strategic decisions" made by the company.

Where did the Murdoch family get their money? ›

Murdoch formed the British broadcaster BSkyB in 1990 and, during the 1990s, expanded into Asian networks and South American television. By 2000, Murdoch's News Corporation owned over 800 companies in more than 50 countries, with a net worth of over $5 billion.

Why was the Murdochs removed from HBO Max? ›

News — “The Murdochs: Empire of Influence” has been removed from HBO Max, along with some other CNN original series'. Sources tell me it's part of an effort at the parent co to write off some of the costs of those programs as restructuring charges.

Is there a spin off of Murdoch Mysteries? ›

A spin off from the show, MACY MURDOCH is now streaming on CBC Gem. It is aimed at the 'tween' generation but is aa delight for any age. Macy is a descendant of William Murdoch and travels back in time to help rescue him from a miscarriage of justice.

Is there a movie about the Murdoch family? ›

The story of the Murdoch family, their influence and their own power battle. This acclaimed BBC Rupert Murdoch documentary tells the story of his influence around the world, his media empire and the dramatic power battle within his own family.

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