WD
Chicago, USA
The Walt Disney Company
Walt Disney
Fired from a newspaper for 'lacking imagination'. Lost his first character to a contract trick. Rebuilt by hand, frame by frame, into the most reproduced cultural empire on Earth.
World-buildingFrame-by-frame perfectionHopeful realism
Struggles
Bankrupted in 1923. Lost Oswald and almost his staff. Snow White nearly broke the studio before it released.
Family
Married to Lillian Bounds. Two daughters, Diane and Sharon (adopted).
The full story
From day one to today.
The journey
Milestones, not magic.
1923
Arrived in Hollywood with $40 and a half-finished cartoon reel.
1928
Created Mickey Mouse after losing rights to Oswald the Rabbit.
1937
Bet everything on Snow White — the first full-length animated feature.
1955
Opened Disneyland — the first theme park designed as an immersive narrative world.
Wins
- Built The Walt Disney Company into a defining brand from Chicago, USA.
Setbacks
- Bankrupted in 1923. Lost Oswald and almost his staff. Snow White nearly broke the studio before it released.
News, interviews & references
Read, watch, dig deeper.
Live links — open the latest articles, interviews and profiles about Walt Disney across the web.
Next journey
Sam Walton — Walmart