Walt Disney was a visionary American animator, film producer, and an innovative entrepreneur. He founded Disney studios with his brother Roy and was the mastermind behind the creation of what would come to be known as the “Happiest Place on Earth”, Disneyland. In short, he was a pioneer of the entertainment industry, whose creative efforts lead to great wealth. How great? Well, that’s exactly what we aim to cover in this Walt Disney net worth exposé.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to know what Walt Disney’s net worth was when died, how much he’d be worth today, and how he built his entertainment empire, then let’s dive right in:
What Was Walt Disney’s Net Worth?
At the time of Walt Disney’s death in 1966, he was worth an estimated at $125 million. However, due to inflation, the change in value of his stocks in the company, and the growth of his other assets, his net worth would be much different today.
After recalculating his financials and adjusting for inflation, Walt Disney’s net worth would be approximately $1.27 billion in 2025.
How Much Did Walt Disney Make Per Year?
These days, The Disney company is owned by many different shareholders as it is a publicly traded company. So, even if Walt Disney were alive today, it would be difficult to calculate the percentage of his take home pay off of the companies $87.8 billion per year.[1]
Also, there’s little to no record of his annual income when he was still alive. As such, the best we can offer is how much he could make per year, leveraging his net worth alone.
To get this estimate, we must presuppose the investment of Disney’s entire $1.27 billion net worth (current valuation), liquidate it, and then reinvest that money in asset that yield on average approximately 4% annually. Why 4%? Because 3% to 5% is historically the returns on safe investments.
That said, if Walt Disney were alive today, he could easily make $50.8 million per year without putting a dent in his fortune. That’s $4.2 million a month, which is not bad for passive income.
Walt Disney’s Money Metrics
| Money Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net Worth: | $ 1,270,000,000 |
| **Earnings Per Year: | $50,800,000 |
| Per Month: | $4,233,333 |
| Per Week: | $976,923 |
| Per Day: | $139,560 |
| Per Hour: | $5,815 |
| Per Min: | $96.9 |
| Per Sec: | $1.61 |
Note: this is an estimated (but very possible) earnings metric based off of the earning power Walt Disney’s approximate modern day net worth. It does not include how much he earned from royalties, ongoing business contracts, etc… This calculation is for entertainment purposes only. Methodology
Walt Disney Fun Facts:
- Walt Disney was born in Chicago IL, and raised in Kansas City, MO.
- Disney was a high school dropout.
- Walt Disney’s father didn’t take his son’s interest in drawing seriously.
- He went bankrupt twice, before finding success.
- Walt Disney was once fired for his lack of creativity.
- Was rejected over 300 times before he convinced financiers to fund his idea for Disney Land.
- Disney died at the age of 65 in 1966 due to lung cancer.
Related: Dream Big
How Did Walt Disney Get Rich?
Walt Disney’s rise to fame and fortune was not an overnight event. In fact, his accumulation of wealth didn’t really start until he was in his mid-30’s.
Disney dropped out of high school to contribute to the war efforts of WW1. When he got back home, he had to get a job to pay the bills.
However, like many ambitious young people today, he launched a business with a friend after a short stint in the working world. He aimed to leverage his skills and interest in drawing, to be his own boss.
His business failed in just a few months, and he went back to work for another ad company working on their animations for ads. However, Walt Disney was restless like his father, and so struck out on his own again after a just a year with his new company.
This time around, now at the age of 20, he launched a new business that took advantage of a different style of animation. He also partnered with 5 other associates, who were animation experts like Disney. His new venture gained clients and contracts, however they quickly ran into financial problems and filed for bankruptcy after their first year in business.
Walt Disney moved to California for a fresh start. He lived with his uncle, and new interests in his animations prompted him to launch his next venture out of his Uncle’s Garage. This time around however, he’d find success with the birth of Disney Studios (initially Disney Bro’s Studios).
Related: Walt Disney Success Story
New Technologies, New Formats, New Money
Disney leaned into animation, leveraged new technologies like cel animation, three-strip technicolor, the multiplane camera, and more. He also hired some of the best animation artists of they to work on creating highly entertaining cartoons.
He created a handful of highly loveable characters that his audiences fell in love with (i.e. Mickey Mouse), many shorts films, and then eventually long form films. And as his studio’s reputation grew, so did the contracts and demand.
As cartoons became more and more advanced and popular with the public, Disney, being the avant-garde animator of the day, saw his wealth explode.
So, Walt Disney primarily built his fortune, by mastering his craft, becoming the go-to company for animators in the 20’s and 30’s by embracing new technology, and leaning into the explosive demand in animated films.
If you’d like to get a glimpse into one of the animation processes and technological breakthroughs that helped Disney build his cartoon empire, give this video a watch:
Video Credit: Ohio Rick (Subscribe Here)
Related Resources on Building Wealth:
- How To Build Your Net Worth
- 5 ETFs That Can Make You Rich
- How To Become a Millionaire
Walt Disney On Success
Walt Disney’s success was not an accident. He believed in his work, the value of the imagination, and in his dreams.
Having said that, here are a few of Walt Disney’s own thoughts related to success and achievement:
“If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It.”
– walt disney –
“First, Think, Second Dream, Third, Believe. And Finally, Dare.”
– walt disney –
“The Way to Get Started Is To Quit Talking And Begin Doing.”
– Walt Disney –
“It’s Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible.”
– walt disney –
“To Succeed, Work Hard, Never Give Up And Above All Cherish a Magnificent Obsession.”
– walt disney –
Related: Walt Disney Quotes
Key Takeaways
Here are some key Walt Disney takeaways:
- Walt Disney Net Worth: $1.27 billion
- Annual Earnings **: $50.8 million
- Keys to Success: Taking Risks, Innovation, Persistence
Walt Disney’s massive net worth is the direct result of his obsession with creating high quality entertainment for hundreds of millions of people. He is the American Dream personified. His embracing of new technologies helped him lead the field in animation, and his eagerness to entertain and inspire helped him win the hearts and minds of an entire generation.
That said, we hope you found what you were looking for and more on our Walt Disney net worth profile page. If you enjoy our analysis, you may also enjoy the following historical net worth profiles:
John D. Rockefeller Net Worth | Andrew Carnegie Net Worth | Ray Kroc Net Worth
Till you reach your financial aims,
STRIVE
** These earnings are hypothetical and calculated off of the earning power of Walt Disney’s estimated net worth assuming a 4.0% dividend yield.
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