Top executives and studio leaders in the global entertainment industry are among the highest earners, particularly in Hollywood, where some CEOs receive salaries and stock options amounting to tens of millions of dollars annually. Nevertheless, when circumstances take a negative turn, such as a series of film failures, these high-ranking executives also experience reductions in their compensation. This precise situation occurred in 2023, as a string of unsuccessful films resulted in the largest film CEO in the world undergoing a pay cut exceeding $14 million (equivalent to Rs 118 crore).

Bob Iger holds a prominent position in the global film industry as the CEO of Disney, making him one of the most influential figures. The 72-year-old has been at the helm of Disney, with intermittent periods, for nearly two decades. However, 2023 proved to be a challenging year for the media giant. Disney Studios, responsible for film production, along with its subsidiary production companies, faced significant setbacks with several big-budget disappointments.

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Notably, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ incurred a loss exceeding $100 million (equivalent to Rs 830 crore), and ‘The Marvels’ marked a noteworthy milestone as the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film to be considered a box office failure, resulting in even more substantial financial losses. Overall, industry analysts estimate that Disney Studios’ films suffered losses just under $200 million (over Rs 1500 crore) in 2023. While Disney remained financially stable due to merchandise sales and other revenue streams, the box office losses were considerable.

According to Variety, Bob Iger’s total earnings as Disney CEO in 2023 amounted to $31.6 million (equivalent to Rs 263 crore). This figure encompasses various components, including a base salary of $865,385, stock awards totaling $16.1 million, $10 million in stock option awards, $2.1 million in performance-based compensation, and $2.48 million in other compensation. While the overall sum may appear substantial, it represents a reduction from the previous year when Iger served as Disney CEO in 2021 (prior to a brief hiatus in 2022). In 2021, he had received a total of $45.9 million (Rs 381 crore), indicating a noteworthy decrease of $14.3 million (Rs 118 crore) in Iger’s pay for the subsequent year.

Bob Iger initially assumed the role of Disney CEO in 2005, overseeing significant developments such as the acquisition of major properties and intellectual properties (IPs) within the media giant, ranging from Marvel to Star Wars. He also played a pivotal role in introducing streaming platforms under the Disney umbrella. In 2021, Iger announced his retirement and officially stepped down in 2022, making way for Bob Chapek to take over as CEO.

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