Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal (2024)

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Once 21st Century Fox shareholders swap their holdings for Walt Disney Co. stock, Rupert Murdoch and his family will become the Burbank entertainment giant’s second largest shareholders, behind only mutual fund giant Vanguard.

The Murdochs’ roughly 4.4% stake would represent the largest position in Disney held by an individual or family since a trust controlled by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, trimmed its Disney stake from nearly 8% to about 4% early this year. Jobs had become Disney’s largest shareholder when he sold animation studio Pixar to Disney in 2006.

Powell Jobs, currently Disney’s No. 4 shareholder, would fall to fifth after the deal. Other major shareholders — mutual fund companies and other institutional investment managers — hold stakes in both firms and would see their combined positions little changed.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

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Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal (2024)

FAQs

Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal? ›

Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal. Once 21st Century Fox shareholders swap their holdings for Walt Disney Co. stock, Rupert Murdoch and his family will become the Burbank entertainment giant's second largest shareholders, behind only mutual fund giant Vanguard.

How much Disney stock does the Murdoch family own? ›

16 under CEO Bob Chapek, the Murdoch family trust, which holds assets for Rupert's six children, had Disney stock worth $US20. 1 billion. When Chapek got his marching orders last month, Disney stock was $US91. 80, and the Murdochs' stake was down to $US9.

Did Murdoch sell Fox to Disney? ›

But Iger found himself dragged into a bidding war by Comcast Chief Executive Brian Roberts, who offered Murdoch considerably more money. To clinch the deal, Disney ultimately agreed to pay $71.3 billion. (In addition, Disney assumed nearly $14 billion in Fox debt, according to company documents.)

Who was the largest shareholder of Disney? ›

According to the latest TipRanks data, approximately 19.16% of Walt Disney (DIS) stock is held by institutional investors. According to the latest TipRanks data, approximately 55.31% of Walt Disney (DIS) stock is held by retail investors. Vanguard owns the most shares of Walt Disney (DIS).

How much did Murdoch pay for Fox News? ›

1979 – Forms News Corporation in Australia. 1981 – Buys the Times of London for $28 million. 1986 – Launches Fox Broadcasting Company after buying Metromedia for more than $2 billion. 1987 – Buys U.S. publishing house Harper & Row for $300 million.

How much of Fox does the Murdoch family own? ›

How much of Fox does the Murdoch family own? The Murdoch Family Trust is the majority shareholder of Fox Corp., which controls FOX News. According to SEC filings, it has a roughly 40% voting stake in Fox Corp. as well as a 44% voting stake in News Corp.

How much of Fox does Disney own? ›

Disney now owns Fox's entire film and TV libraries — which is to say every movie and TV show made by 20th Century Fox — and has thousands of titles newly at its fingertips.

Does the Murdoch family still own Fox? ›

Murdoch left his post as CEO of 21st Century Fox in 2015 but continued to own the company until it was purchased by Disney in 2019. A number of television broadcasting assets were spun off into the Fox Corporation before the acquisition and are still owned by Murdoch.

Who owns Fox Disney? ›

The acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company was announced on December 14, 2017, and was completed on March 20, 2019.

Did Disney really buy Fox? ›

Summary. Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox gave it ownership over numerous popular titles and properties, including the X-Men characters and the Avatar franchise. Avatar has been the most successful property for Disney since the acquisition, with the sequel making over $2.32 billion at the box office.

How much of Disney does China own? ›

It's a joint venture with a "state-owned enterprise" — i.e., the CCP. The split? The CCP owns 57%, Disney just 43%. Do most Disney shareholders even know that fact?

Does Walt Disney family still own Disney? ›

Abigail's brother, Roy P., said in an interview that by 1960, Walt and Roy O. owned about 20% of the company. Today, the family owns less than 3% of the company. Roy P. is an investor, according to the interview.

Who owns Walt Disney World now? ›

Who is the biggest shareholder of Fox? ›

Top Institutional Holders
HolderSharesDate Reported
Vanguard Group Inc15.14MDec 31, 2023
Blackrock Inc.12.74MDec 31, 2023
Dodge & Cox Inc11.3MDec 31, 2023
Yacktman Asset Management Lp8.73MMar 31, 2024
6 more rows

What religion is Rupert Murdoch? ›

In spite of his interest in Catholicism and his papal knighthood, however, Murdoch did not eventually convert and so remains a Presbyterian. Although calls were made at the time of the phone-hacking scandal for Murdoch's papal knighthood to be taken away, he was allowed to keep it.

What companies are owned by Rupert Murdoch? ›

Rupert Murdoch is a renowned media executive who served as the co-chairman of Fox Corporation, and the executive chairman of News Corp, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins, and the New York Post.

Does the Murdoch family own Disney? ›

Murdoch family becomes second largest Disney shareholder with Fox deal. Once 21st Century Fox shareholders swap their holdings for Walt Disney Co. stock, Rupert Murdoch and his family will become the Burbank entertainment giant's second largest shareholders, behind only mutual fund giant Vanguard.

How much Disney stock does the Disney family own? ›

According to Walt Disney's grand-nephew, Roy Patrick Disney, Walt and Roy owned about 20% of the company by 1960 and today the whole family owns less than 3% of it. Most of the family has stayed out of the business.

Who are the owners of Disney stock? ›

Who speaks for Disney shareholders?
  • Vanguard Goup. 7.98%
  • Blackrock. 6.59%
  • State Street Global Advisors. 4.13%
  • Geode Capital Management. 1.89%
  • Trian Fund Management (Peltz) 1.76%
  • State Farm Insurance Companies. 1.75%
  • Norges Bank Investment Management. 1.17%
  • Bob Iger. 0.13%

What companies does the Murdoch family own? ›

Through his company News Corp, he is the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world, including in the UK (The Sun and The Times), in Australia (The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, and The Australian), in the US (The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post), book publisher ...

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