Iger Confirms Near-Acquisition of Twitter
Bob Iger, former CEO of Disney, revealed in an exit interview with The Financial Times that his company came close to buying Twitter from cofounder Jack Dorsey at a very attractive price. The deal collapsed on the morning of its execution because Iger feared it would become a horrible distraction for Disney. He had envisioned transforming Twitter into a global distribution platform for Disney content.
Apple Merger Talks Went Nowhere
Disney also engaged in early merger discussions with Apple, which Iger described as potentially truly transformational. However, according to Iger, these conversations never went anywhere because Apple didn't show much interest. Iger served on Apple's board from 2011 to 2019 and played a key role in Disney's 2006 acquisition of Pixar, then led by Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. Iger recalled that his first call with Jobs led to an immediate deal to put Disney content on the first video iPod, marking a new era for Disney.
Disney's List of Acquisition Targets Included James Bond
After the Pixar success, Iger said Disney felt unstoppable and compiled a list of acquisition targets: Marvel, Star Wars, and James Bond. While Disney successfully acquired Marvel and Lucasfilm (Star Wars), the attempt to buy the James Bond franchise failed. Iger provided no details on the effort, but Amazon ultimately secured 007 distribution rights via its 2022 MGM acquisition and later paid over $1 billion for full creative control in February 2025.
Iger's Departure and Legacy
Iger stepped down from his second tenure as Disney CEO on March 18th, succeeded by former Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro. He remains on Disney's board but is expected to leave that role in December. The interview sheds light on the major deals that shaped Disney's trajectory and the ones that got away.
