Founded in 1993 through brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool is helping millions of others gain monetary freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper columns, radio screens and high-level investment services.
Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) has existed since 1923, nearly a hundred years, when it began as Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. Most of us probably think we know enough about the company, but there are likely many of them that you don’t know.
Here’s a look at 12 facts about Walt Disney, its history and activities.
Mickey Mouse has been around for a long time since 1928, but is not the first Disney cartoon character. This honor is for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who starred in the hit Trolley Troubles.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was Disney’s first feature film, the Great Depression premiered in 1937. It was a great fortune and, in fact, a lot of very cheerful people. It was also the first film to release a soundtrack.
Disney’s shares were made public in 1940. Anyone who still owns shares bought at that time will have done well, as the shares have risen more than 40,000%.
Disney hired another 233,000 people until the end of 2019. That’s more than the population of cities like Salt Lake City, Utah; Birmingham, Alabama; Tallahassee, Florida; Rochester, New York; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Akron, Ohio; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Tempe, Arizona.
Of the 20 executives featured on the Disney website, six are women. Of the 10 board members, four are women. No figure is 50% or more, but for other giant American companies, those are respectable figures. (A projection of 50% or more in a few years would be even more impressive).
Not many other people notice, but Walt Disney owns ABC Television, ESPN and FX Network. ESPN’s activity is more complicated than the usual activity because of the pandemic that disrupts many sports.
Yes, Disney also owns National Geographic, which includes many photographs and videos highlighting nature and the environment, as well as a cable tv channel.
Disney unveiled its Disney streaming service in late 2019 and has enjoyed a wonderful good fortune so far, with 60.5 million subscribers in early August. (Finished success in 60 to 90 million until 2024!)
Disney owns most of Hulu’s streaming service, which has more than 30 million subscribers, and plans to own it in its entirety until 2024. But Hulu has generated losses and we don’t know what Disney will do with them.
Another streaming service is being developed, as Disney has announced plans for a foreign service that will appear on an Indian television logo you have purchased, called Star. In the pandemic era, the company is strengthening its direct-to-consumer offerings.
You know Disney bought Pixar in 2006, right? Well, it has a lot of content production properties. Walt Disney Studios includes Walt Disney’s renowned animation studios such as Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures and Blue Sky Studios, including Walt Disney Records, Hollywood Records and Disney. Theatrical productions.
Walt Disney has been nominated for an Oscar 59 times and won 26 times, enough to make him the top Oscar winner.
The attractions above are just the tip of Disney’s desirable iceberg. If you just spend a little time searching online, look for lots of other revealing facts, adding data about your major theme parks and resorts.
But only the above will help you see how Disney has become an empire, with its market price recently surpassed $230 billion. Is it investing in prices? Many think so, despite the malaise caused by the pandemic (which led the corporate to suspend its dividend). Additional studies can help you if you need to buy stocks or look and expect a more exciting opportunity.