Disney is one of the most closely scrutinized companies in the world. There is constant analysis and commentary on the company’s finances, strategic decisions, leadership, and the content it produces.

©Fox 11 Los Angeles | Protestors outside Disney headquarters in April 2022

The Walt Disney Company is run by a Board of Directors elected by shareholders. These board members often have many years of executive experience, and they have full-time jobs with huge compensation packages. So, why would anyone who already has a great job want to sign up to be under the kind of scrutiny that these board members are under?

Board members will probably tell you they love Disney — just like we do. They also may enjoy the challenges that come with the job, and the recognition they get for running one of the world’s most loved (and, arguably, most hated) companies. But another reason might be the chance to make more money.

You may think of a board of directors as something that people volunteer for. That’s often the case with the boards that many of us have experience with close to our homes — like the boards for local nonprofit organizations, or boards that run local governmental entities, like a school board.

Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times

But corporate boards are an entirely different animal. They come with compensation packages that include a salary and stock options. And, since shareholders want top talent running the companies they have invested in, those compensation packages could seem, well, rather large for a part-time job.

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week reveals the salaries of Disney’s Board of Directors, so let’s take a look.

©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters

First, we’ll say this: These numbers look BIG to many of us, but they do compare to what corporate board members at other large companies make. A 2021 survey showed that the median compensation for a director at the 100 biggest companies in the U.S. was $310,000. And these folks are highly qualified to be in these positions — they have experience as CEOs of huge companies like Nike and Coca-Cola.

OK, here we go. The base compensation for The Walt Disney Company’s Board of Directors is $125,000 per year. In addition to that cash salary, directors got stock awards of at least $236,657 last year. And some directors received “other compensation.”

Susan Arnold ©Disney

The highest paid member of Disney’s board was Susan E. Arnold, who earned a total of $571,981. Arnold is currently the chairwoman of the board of directors, but will be replaced in that position and rotate off the board this spring, because she has served the maximum amount of time someone can on Disney’s board — 15 years.

Here’s a full look at board compensation for 2022:

As you can see, every member of Disney’s board earned in excess of $350,000 in 2022. 

An activist investor named Nelson Peltz is currently campaigning for a seat on the board. This is an unusual situation because, while shareholders vote for the board of directors, the board usually puts up its own slate of directors, and they are generally voted in without any opposition.

Disney’s annual shareholder meeting has been set for April 3, and we will learn more about whether Peltz’s campaign was successful at that time. In the meantime, here is some more information about what’s happening with Disney’s board and what’s at stake:

• Who Is Nelson Peltz and Why Do People Care What He Says About Disney?
• Can Activist Investors Derail Bob Iger’s Board at Disney?
• The Big Disney Parks Changes that Activist Investors Are Pushing

Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Walt Disney Company news.

What do you think about the compensation for Disney’s Board of Directors? Tell us in the comments!

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