Hollywood's Horrible Year? Not For CEOs: Disney's Bob Iger, Warner Bros.' David Zaslav Enjoy Huge Paydays
Portfolio Pulse from Anthony Noto
Despite a challenging year for Hollywood with a weak box office forecast for 2024, layoffs, and strikes, CEOs of major studios like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery received significant pay raises. Disney's Bob Iger saw a 110.7% increase in his salary, despite Disney's stock hitting a 10-year low and making 7,000 job cuts. Warner Bros. Discovery's David Zaslav received a 26.5% salary increase, even as the company faced significant layoffs and a stock low in the first quarter of 2024. Both companies, however, reported some financial positives, with Disney's revenues growing by 7% and Warner Bros. exceeding cash flow projections by $1 billion.

May 08, 2024 | 11:08 pm
News sentiment analysis
Sort by:
Ascending
NEGATIVE IMPACT
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc's CEO Adam Aron referred to 2023 as facing a 'double whammy' due to mass layoffs and two massive Hollywood strikes, impacting the industry's box office performance.
The negative sentiment expressed by AMC's CEO regarding the industry's challenges in 2023, including the impact of strikes and layoffs on the box office, could lead to a negative short-term impact on AMC's stock as investor concerns about the broader industry's health may increase.
CONFIDENCE 75
IMPORTANCE 60
RELEVANCE 70
NEUTRAL IMPACT
Disney's CEO Bob Iger received a 110.7% salary increase in 2023 despite the company's stock hitting a 10-year low and making 7,000 job cuts. However, Disney's revenues grew by 7% compared to the prior year.
The significant salary increase for Bob Iger might raise eyebrows among investors, especially given the stock's performance and layoffs. However, the revenue growth could mitigate some concerns, leading to a neutral short-term impact on Disney's stock.
CONFIDENCE 80
IMPORTANCE 75
RELEVANCE 90
NEUTRAL IMPACT
Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav received a 26.5% salary increase in 2023, amidst significant layoffs and a stock low in the first quarter of 2024. The company exceeded cash flow projections by $1 billion and paid down $6.6 billion in debt.
David Zaslav's salary increase and the company's financial achievements, such as exceeding cash flow projections and reducing debt, present a mixed picture for investors. The stock's performance and layoffs might concern investors, but financial improvements could balance the short-term impact on Warner Bros. Discovery's stock.
CONFIDENCE 80
IMPORTANCE 75
RELEVANCE 90