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Former Disney CEO Bob Iger invests in yet another company following his December Disney departure

bob iger 100 dollar bills canva
Credit: Canva Creation

Former Walt Disney Company Disney CEO Bob Iger continues to diversify his time, talents, and portfolio following his Disney departure on December 31, 2021. This time, he’s investing in the Australian design company Canva.

Iger Shanghai

Credit: Disney

RELATED: Fare thee well, Mr. Iger. And thanks for everything.

Bob Iger always had a knack for bringing people together and for scouting out potential acquisitions for the Walt Disney Company and then bringing those acquisitions to fruition. The list of businesses and entities purchased by Disney under Iger’s leadership is lengthy and includes the following:

  • Miramax – 1993; $60 million
  • Capital Cities/ABC/ESPN – 1995; $19 billion
  • Starwave – 1998; undisclosed amount
  • Infoseek – 1999; undisclosed amount
  • Fox Family Worldwide (Freeform) – 2001; $2.9 billion
  • Baby Einstein – 2001; undisclosed amount
  • The Muppets – 2004; $75 million
  • CrossGen – 2004; $1 million
  • Avalanche Software – 2005; undisclosed amount
  • Pixar – 2006; $7.4 billion
  • Oswald the Lucky Rabbit – 2006; traded for the rights to sports broadcaster Al Michaels
  • Junction Point Studios – 2007; undisclosed amount
  • Marvel – 2009; $4 billion
  • Hulu – 2009; 30% purchase (increased to full ownership in 2019)
  • Wideload Games – 2010; undisclosed amount
  • Tapulous – 2010; undisclosed amount
  • Playdom – 2010; $563 million
  • UTV Software Communications – 2011; $297 million
  • Lucasfilm (Star Wars) – 2012; $4.06 billion
  • Maker Studios – 2014; $500 million
  • Sphero – 2014; unknown minority investment
  • BAM – 2016 & 2017; $2.58 billion total
  • 21st Century Fox – 2019; $71.3 billion

The former Disney CEO and Chairman was never specific about his post-Mickey plans as they related to his next ventures and adventures, but many speculated about Iger’s future after Disney.

Bob Iger

Credit: NPR

Now, according to CNBC, Iger has invested in Australian design company Canva. The closely held company has also invited Iger to be an advisor, and he has accepted the role.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Bob Iger as an investor and advisor,” said Canva spokesman Lachlan Andrews in a statement. “Bob brings a wealth of experience after 15 years at the helm of one of the most loved and most creative brands in the world and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Neither Bob Iger nor Canva commented on the amount of Iger’s investment in the company, which was valued in September 2021 at $40 billion. Canva is a graphic design software company that ranked in the top 5 spots among CNBC’s annual Disruptor 50 list, which was just released in early May.

Logo Maker | Create Free Logos in Minutes | Canva

The Sydney, Australia-based entity assists people in creating presentations, making videos, and creating other designs used on social media platforms and on websites.

The sun set on Iger’s 47-year tenure with The Walt Disney Company on December 31, 2021, and almost immediately, he began other projects. Bob Iger was reportedly toying with the idea of becoming a part-owner of the Phoenix Suns.

Bob Iger Marvel

Credit: The Wrap

Robert Sarver, who boasted a 33% stake in the Phoenix Suns has been under investigation by a law firm commissioned by the National Basketball Association for alleged “inappropriateness” of various kinds. According to Sports Illustrated, Sarver was accused of making racist comments, being verbally abusive, and operating with misogynistic viewpoints.

Should he depart from his role with the Suns and offer up his stake, Iger was reportedly looking into buying part of all of Sarver’s stake. So far, that hasn’t happened, but inquiring eyes and minds are watching.

Since his Disney departure, Iger has also stepped into the metaverse.

In mid-March, the former Disney CEO tweeted about plans for his next adventure, saying he was “thrilled to be joining the @genies Board of Directors to help @akashrnigam and company empower humans to create the ‘mobile apps of web3’: avatar ecosystems.”

bob iger mickey mouse bob iger metaverse

Credit: Disney/Genies/Canva Creation

(His photos gave us “Bob Iger boy band” vibes.)

bob iger

Credit: Canva Creation

More recently, Iger became a part-owner in the toymaker Funko, which also owns Loungefly, a maker of Disney-themed backpacks, bags, purses, wallets, and more.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!