Disney’s new chief executive Josh D’Amaro is set to earn a $38 million pay package as he prepares to take over the House of Mouse from Bob Iger next month.
D’Amaro, the head of Disney theme parks, will earn an annual base salary of $2.5 million as well as a one-time bonus of $9.75 million once he takes over the helm, according to SEC filings.
Each year that D’Amaro serves as CEO, he will receive a long-term stock incentive of $26.2 million as well as an annual bonus of 250% of his base salary on the condition that he meets certain performance goals.
D’Amaro is scheduled to formally take over as CEO next month.
Dana Walden, the Disney Entertainment co-chair who was widely perceived as the runner-up in the race to succeed Iger, will receive a $24 million pay package as she assumes a newly created position of president and chief creative officer.
Walden’s new contract includes an annual base salary of $3.75 million, a one-time award of $5.26 million and annual stock grants valued at $15.75 million.
She will also be eligible for a bonus worth up to 200% of her base salary, along with a performance-based “hit series bonus” tied to the success of Disney originals.
Her contract runs through March 17, 2030.
Iger will step down as CEO on March 18 and assume the role of senior adviser. He will stay on the company’s board of directors until Dec. 31 — after which he will be fully retired.
Disney’s board of directors on Tuesday tapped D’Amaro to succeed Iger. According to reports, D’Amaro is widely considered popular among rank-and-file employees and park-level leadership at the House of Mouse.
Known as a visible, hands-on leader, D’Amaro is considered a forward-facing executive who spends time in parks, talks directly with employees and leans heavily into Disney culture and morale.
Walden has long been viewed inside Disney as its most powerful creative executive, with deep credibility among Hollywood talent and a reputation for being tough, disciplined and decisive.
Since joining Disney in 2019 through the Fox deal, she has overseen major television, streaming and content operations, earning praise for stabilizing the company’s entertainment business during a turbulent period marked by cost cuts, strategic pivots and intense competition.
