Disney Once Seriously Considered Merging with Apple, Reveals Former CEO

• June 24, 2026

The Walt Disney Company, long known for its expansive entertainment empire, once seriously evaluated the possibility of merging with tech giant Apple. This revelation comes from Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney, who confirmed that discussions about a potential union between the two corporations took place.

While the companies have shared a connection in the past—most notably through Apple’s Steve Jobs, who was a major investor and leader at Pixar, the animation studio eventually acquired by Disney—the idea of a full merger had not been widely reported until now.

Historical Ties and Strategic Context

Steve Jobs’ role as the head of Pixar during its partnership and eventual integration with Disney is well known. His influence bridged the worlds of technology and entertainment, linking Apple and Disney in unique ways through innovation in animation and digital media. However, according to Bob Iger, these intersections went beyond partnerships and investments.

During his tenure, Iger seriously entertained the notion of combining Disney’s extensive content portfolio and distribution platforms with Apple’s technological infrastructure and consumer reach. Such a merger would have represented a bold step in converging digital technology with traditional entertainment assets.

Although specifics about the discussions or reasons why the merger did not proceed have not been disclosed, this consideration highlights how corporate leaders explore various strategies to adapt and expand in an aggressively changing media and tech landscape.

Both companies have continued to evolve independently, with Disney focusing on streaming services like Disney+ and Apple expanding its footprint into original content with Apple TV+. Their separate paths underline differing approaches to integrating technology and media to capture audiences worldwide.

The disclosure sheds new light on the strategic thinking behind major entertainment and technology players and opens discussions about future possibilities of cross-industry mergers that could reshape access to media and technology.

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger disclosed that Disney seriously explored a potential merger with Apple, highlighting close historical ties between the companies.