Status Updates From Walt Disney: An American Or...

Did not realize the massive part Disney played in war media around WW2. Sheesh, this books gets more and more interesting every time I open it up. Makes me want to go buy some more Disney stock.

Disney accumulated a lot of debt. They were making art in a way that was so ahead of its time and the demand just never could outweigh the costs of production.

Unionization changed everything. Walt faced criticism for his opposition and said something that holds true to today: “The thing that worries me is that people only read headlines and never take enough time to follow through and find out the truth.”

Loyalty. Shocking how many times Disney was screwed. Distributors, staff, and even one of his closest confidantes, Ub Iwerks. Ol’ buddy Ub was a cartoonist that grew up right alongside Walt for years until 1929 when he decided to take a deal with Pat Powers, a distributor, behind Disneys back. Ub was bought out of Disney at $2,920 (20% equity)…that ends up being worth ~$4B, lol what a clown🤡.

Two things…1. I wish I was a fly on a wall all of the times that Walt asked people for money. Whether it was family, friends, or former business partners, they were doling it out. Dude must have had some gnarly persuasion skills. 2. I wonder if he ever paid them back?