How Much Will Josh D'Amaro Make as Disney CEO? Massive Salaries Confirmed

For years, Josh D’Amaro has been one of the most recognizable faces inside Disney. Whether it’s major theme park announcements, D23 moments, or public-facing leadership during massive changes, he’s been front and center. Now, with Disney officially preparing to hand him the top job, one question is getting just as much attention as the announcement itself.

How much will Josh D’Amaro actually make as Disney’s next CEO?

The short answer: an enormous amount. And once you break it down piece by piece, it becomes clear just how much Disney is investing in this next chapter.

Josh D’Amaro’s Base Salary Is Only the Beginning

Disney’s incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro will start with a base salary of $2.5 million per year, paid weekly. That alone places him among the highest-paid executives in corporate America, but at Disney, base salary is just the foundation.

The real financial weight of the role comes from bonuses, stock awards, and long-term incentives that tie D’Amaro’s compensation directly to the company’s performance.

D’Amaro will be eligible for an annual incentive bonus worth 250% of his base salary. If Disney meets its performance goals in a given year, that bonus alone could reach $6.25 million.

That structure isn’t subtle. Disney isn’t just paying for leadership—it’s paying for results. If the parks continue expanding, streaming stabilizes, and theatrical releases regain momentum, D’Amaro’s earnings rise with the company’s success.

Related: Disney’s New CEO Plans To Bring “Classic” Elements To Disney Parks

Stock Awards Are Where the Real Money Is

The most eye-opening part of D’Amaro’s compensation package comes from long-term stock incentives. For every fiscal year he serves as CEO, he’ll receive $26.25 million in stock awards.

On top of that, Disney approved a one-time payout valued at $9.705 million, designed to secure his commitment during the transition and early years of his leadership.

When you add everything together—base pay, bonuses, recurring stock awards, and the one-time incentive—D’Amaro’s compensation quickly climbs into the kind of territory reserved for executives steering massive global companies.

Dana Walden’s Pay Shows Disney Is Betting Big on Leadership

Josh D’Amaro isn’t stepping into this moment alone. Disney also revealed compensation details for Dana Walden, who will serve as President and Chief Creative Officer.

Walden’s base salary will be $3.75 million per year, notably higher than D’Amaro’s starting base. She’ll also be eligible for an annual bonus equal to 200% of that salary, putting her potential bonus at $7.5 million in a strong year.

Her long-term stock awards come in at $15.75 million per fiscal year, along with a one-time long-term incentive valued at $5.26 million.

Taken together, D’Amaro and Walden form one of the most expensive executive leadership teams Disney has ever assembled—and that appears to be very much by design.

How This Stacks Up Against Bob Iger

To understand why these numbers matter, it helps to look at what Disney is transitioning away from. Current CEO Bob Iger earned $45.8 million in total compensation in 2025, despite having a base salary of just $1 million.

The rest of Iger’s pay came from stock awards, stock options, cash bonuses, and additional compensation such as security and personal air travel. That comparison makes one thing clear: Disney isn’t pulling back on executive pay. If anything, it’s reinforcing a system that heavily rewards long-term performance.

What These Salaries Say About Disney’s Direction

These massive compensation packages send a clear message. Disney believes the next few years are critical. Between theme park transformations, streaming profitability challenges, and shifting audience expectations, the company needs steady leadership more than ever.

By structuring contracts that lean heavily on incentives and stock performance, Disney is tying its future directly to the success of Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden. The expectation isn’t just stability—it’s growth.

For fans, the numbers can feel shocking. For investors, they signal confidence and urgency. Either way, one thing is certain: running Disney comes with pressure, scrutiny, and nonstop expectations, but it also comes with a paycheck that reflects the scale of the empire.

Inside the Magic will have more updates on this breaking news.