Is Disney a subsidiary of another company?

No, Disney is not a subsidiary. The Walt Disney Company is an independent, publicly traded corporation. Disney is the core brand of The Walt Disney Company, not a separate entity owned by another company. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is owned by its shareholders.

When was Disney founded?

Disney was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. The company was originally based in a small office in Los Angeles before moving to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Disney was founded by brothers Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney. Walt Disney was the creative force behind the company, directing and producing animated films. Roy O. Disney handled the business and financial operations. Walt Disney died in 1966, and Roy O. Disney died in 1971.

What is Disney's market position?

Disney is the largest entertainment company in the world by revenue, with approximately $90.2 billion in fiscal year 2025 revenue. The company is the global leader in theme parks, one of the major film studios, and a top-three streaming service provider through [Disney+](/brands/disney-plus). Disney competes with Comcast (NBCUniversal), Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix across its business segments.

Bob Iger is the current CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He returned as CEO in November 2022, replacing Bob Chapek. Iger previously served as CEO from 2005 to 2020. Disney's board has stated that Iger will step down by the end of 2026, and a succession process is underway.

Media & Entertainment

Who Owns Disney?

Q: Is Disney publicly traded?

Yes, The Walt Disney Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DIS. The company went public in 1957. Investors can buy DIS shares through any brokerage. The Disney brand itself is not separately traded; its value is included in The Walt Disney Company's overall market capitalization.

Disney is the core brand of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), a publicly traded American media and entertainment conglomerate founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney. The company reported approximately $90.2 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025. Disney operates film studios, theme parks, and streaming services including Disney+ and Hulu. CEO Bob Iger has indicated he will step down by the end of 2026, with a successor expected to be named.

Parent Company

The Walt Disney Company

Founded

1923

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Burbank, California, USA

mid rangemass marketGlobalall-agesOfficial Website

Who Owns Disney?

Parent Company: The Walt Disney Company
Ownership Type: Brand division
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: DIS

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Disney	The Walt Disney Company	Brand division

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases

Disney on Amazon

History of Disney

Founded: 1923
Founders: Walt Disney, Roy O. Disney

Disney was founded in 1923 by brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. The company initially produced short animated films in a small office in Los Angeles. In 1928, Disney created Mickey Mouse, who debuted in "Steamboat Willie," one of the first cartoons with synchronized sound. Mickey Mouse became the company's mascot and remains one of the most recognized characters in the world.

In the 1930s, Disney pioneered feature-length animation. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premiered in 1937 and was the first full-length cel-animated feature film in cinematic history. The film earned approximately $8 million at the box office during its initial release, an enormous sum during the Great Depression. Disney followed with "Pinocchio" (1940), "Fantasia" (1940), "Dumbo" (1941), and "Bambi" (1942).

The 1950s marked Disney's expansion beyond animation. The company produced its first fully live-action film, "Treasure Island," in 1950. In 1954, Disney launched the "Disneyland" television series on ABC, which was the company's first regular television program. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. The theme park was an immediate success and transformed Disney from a film studio into a diversified entertainment company.

Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966, from lung cancer. His brother Roy O. Disney took over leadership and oversaw the completion of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which opened on October 1, 1971. Roy O. Disney died in December 1971, just months after Walt Disney World's opening.

After the deaths of the founding brothers, Disney went through a period of decline in the 1970s and early 1980s. The studio's animated films underperformed, and the company lacked clear creative direction. In 1984, Michael Eisner became CEO and Frank Wells became president. Under their leadership, Disney experienced a resurgence, expanding into television with The Disney Channel (1983) and launching the Disney Renaissance in animation with "The Little Mermaid" (1989), "Beauty and the Beast" (1991), "Aladdin" (1992), and "The Lion King" (1994).

In the 1990s and 2000s, Disney expanded through acquisitions. The company acquired ESPN through its 1996 acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC for approximately $19 billion. In 2006, Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion. In 2009, Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion. In 2012, Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. These acquisitions gave Disney ownership of major intellectual property franchises including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and Pixar's animated catalog.

In 2019, Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets for approximately $71 billion, adding 20th Century Studios, Hulu, and additional content to its portfolio. The same year, Disney launched Disney+ on November 12, 2019, entering the streaming market directly.

In 2020, Bob Iger stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Bob Chapek. Chapek's tenure was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced theme park closures and disrupted film releases. Chapek was fired in November 2022, and Iger returned as CEO. Iger restructured Disney's segments, prioritized streaming profitability, and addressed the company's proxy battle with activist investor Trian Group in 2024.

As of 2026, Disney faces ongoing challenges including declining linear television revenue, streaming subscriber losses at Disney+, and the planned CEO succession. The company continues to invest in theme park expansions, including a planned $60 billion investment in parks and cruises over the next decade.

About The Walt Disney Company

What does Disney own?

Disney owns a portfolio of approximately 20 major consumer-facing brands across media, entertainment, and experiences. Key holdings include Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, ABC, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm (Star Wars), 20th Century Studios, National Geographic, FX, and the Disney Parks and Cruise Line businesses. The company also holds a 70% stake in the combined Fubo and Hulu + Live TV virtual MVPD entity. Disney acquired many of these brands through major transactions, including Pixar ($7.4 billion in 2006), Marvel ($4 billion in 2009), Lucasfilm ($4.05 billion in 2012), and 21st Century Fox ($71.3 billion in 2019).

Is Disney publicly traded?

Yes. The Walt Disney Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DIS. The company has a single class of common stock with equal voting rights for all shares. Disney is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is widely held by institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The company has paid dividends consistently, with a fiscal 2025 dividend of $1.50 per share and significant share repurchase programs.

Who founded Disney?

The Walt Disney Company was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney in Los Angeles, California. Walt Disney was the creative force behind the company, directing animation innovation and conceiving the theme park concept. Roy O. Disney was the financial strategist who managed the company's business operations. Walt Disney died in 1966, and Roy O. Disney died in 1971 after completing Walt Disney World in Florida.

Where is Disney headquartered?

Disney is headquartered in Burbank, California, USA. The company's corporate campus, the Walt Disney Studios, has been located in Burbank since 1940. The campus includes the studio lot, corporate offices, and production facilities. Disney also maintains significant operations in New York City (ABC and ESPN), Bristol, Connecticut (ESPN headquarters), Anaheim, California (Disneyland), and Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Walt Disney World).

How many brands does Disney own?

Disney owns approximately 20 major consumer-facing brands across its three operating segments. These include Disney, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, ABC, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, National Geographic, FX, Disney Channel, Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Store, and others. The company also holds a 70% stake in the combined Fubo and Hulu + Live TV entity. The total count depends on how individual cable channels and sub-brands are categorized.