Insiders Say Bob Iger's 'End Game' Is To Sell Disney To Apple: Report

The future of Disney may involve a possible acquisition by tech giant Apple, according to recent speculation amongst Disney insiders.

What Happened: As per a Business Insider report on Wednesday, speculation has resurfaced about Apple’s potential acquisition of Disney. This comes after Bob Iger returned to his position as CEO of Disney DIS less than a year ago.

Several past and present Disney executives reportedly believe that Iger’s “end game” is to stay on and sell Disney to Apple Inc. AAPL. This theory has been debated for years, despite Apple’s history of infrequent major acquisitions, reported Business Insider citing CNBC.

Apple’s largest purchase until now remains its 2015 acquisition of Beats for $3 billion. However, the possibility of regulatory approval for such a mega-deal between Apple and Disney raises questions.

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Neither Disney nor Apple have responded to the speculation. The Disney CEO has previously indicated a willingness to sell non-core Disney assets, including ABC and cable networks like FX and National Geographic.

Iger has had a long-standing relationship with the late Steve Jobs and by extension, Apple. After Disney’s acquisition of Pixar in 2006, Jobs became Disney’s largest shareholder. Iger joined Apple’s board after Jobs’ death in 2011.

In a 2019 book, Iger expressed his belief that if Steve Jobs were alive, the two companies might have merged. This belief has been echoed by analysts who suggest that an Apple acquisition of Disney could be mutually beneficial.

Why It Matters: Back in 2021, Iger revealed in an interview that a merger between Disney and Apple might have been a possibility if Jobs were still alive. He suggested that Disney’s content would have been a natural fit for the iPhone maker.

Fast forward to July 2023, Iger’s comments led to speculation of a potential sale of Disney assets, sending the company’s stock price to lows seen during the COVID-19 period. This recent development has rekindled previous speculations among insiders of a potential Disney-Apple merger.

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