It all started with…a Mickey Mouse wristwatch.

Bob Iger is known for many accomplishments, but perhaps he should be most celebrated for his commitment to quality, a respect for the innovative, an eye to the future—and most of all, a love for all things Disney. A symbol for the latter is his vintage 1933 Mickey Mouse Ingersoll watch. One of his most prized possessions, Bob purchased his Mickey Mouse watch at a New York City antique shop the day he learned that Disney was buying Capital Cities/ABC in 1995.  “There was this watch in the window, and I said, ‘Now, I’m a Disney cast member,” he recalled.  "I have always had tremendous respect for The Walt Disney Company and its excellent management,” Bob said at the time of Disney’s acquisition of ABC. “Our assets and reach can help increase the scope of what is already a worldwide enterprise; but it will be our enthusiasm and spirit, added to theirs, that will give this combination a special dimension. I am very excited to be a part of this new venture and to have the opportunity to help build a unique force in international media."

Now widely recognized as one of the world’s most consequential business leaders, Bob has built on Disney’s rich legacy of unforgettable storytelling with the acquisitions of Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012), and 21st Century Fox (2019); the landmark opening of Disney’s first theme park and resort in mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort (2016); and the release of a number of record-setting films, including Marvel’s Black Panther (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), Disney’s Frozen (2013), Zootopia 2 (2025), and Lilo & Stitch (2025), Pixar’s Inside Out 2 (2024), and 20^th Century Studio’s Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).

Like Walt Disney himself, Bob has always embraced technology. He helped position Disney as an industry leader through its creative content offerings across multiple new platforms, including the highly successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service in November 2019.

Bob was born in New York City and raised in Oceanside, New York, a town on Long Island.  He graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in television and radio. After serving as a weatherman at a local TV station, he signed on for a network production job at ABC in 1974. He rose up the ranks, becoming president of the ABC Network Television Group in early 1993 and was later named senior vice president of ABC's corporate parent, Capital Cities/ABC, before being promoted to executive vice president. He was named president and COO of Capital Cities/ABC in 1994 and stayed in that position after Disney bought ABC in 1996. In 2000, he was promoted to president and chief operating officer of The Walt Disney Company. In 2005, Bob was named as CEO, a tenure that would initially last through 2021.

Returning as Disney’s CEO in November of 2022, Bob has led a significant, enterprise-wide transformation to restore creativity to the center of the company.

During his more than 20 years at the helm of Disney, Bob served as steward of the world’s most respected and beloved brands. His strategic vision has focused on three fundamental pillars: generating the best creative content possible; fostering innovation and embracing technology; and expanding into new markets across the globe.

In September 2022, Bob was appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II "for services to the UK/US relations". In addition, in October 2024, Bob was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur by French president Emmanuel Macron for his service to France.

Bob is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2020. He is married to Willow Bay, Dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Bob is the author of the New York Times best-selling book The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, published in 2019, where he additionally shared 10 "principles that strike me as necessary to true leadership," such as being optimistic, courageous, curious and fair. Reflecting on the concept of “Authenticity," he wrote, "Be genuine. Be honest. Don't fake anything. Truth and authenticity breed respect and trust." Commenting on "Integrity,” Bob stated: "The way you do anything is the way you do everything."

As his treasured Mickey Mouse watch attests, Bob’s appreciation for Disney and its fans are heartfelt, transcending corporate identities and business considerations. “While each of our businesses might seem different from one another, in fact they fuel each other in ways that are just distinctly Disney,” Bob said at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009. “They are bound by a common mission: to tell great stories… and to bring you those stories in the most modern, relevant, and compelling ways.” Bob added that the world needs to be entertained, maybe even more so now than ever.

“We take that responsibility seriously,” he said. “We are grateful for every moment, every memory that we’re fortunate enough to be part of. And we’re grateful to you for caring so much about the things we create and inviting Disney into your lives in such profound ways.” Bob made it clear that he speaks for everyone at Disney when he said, “there is nothing we love more than to entertain you, thrill you, surprise you, and fill your hearts with joy and wonder. And we know that when we do all of that, we’re doing our jobs right,” he noted. “It is such a privilege for me to lead such a remarkable company that brings joy to so many people around the world — both to the young, and as Walt liked to say, the young at heart. We have a lot to be proud of and even more to look forward to.”