Keep Factually independent

Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500

Fact check: Apple originally sold Pixar to Disney in 2006 when Jobs made that legendary deal with Bob Iger.

Checked on February 22, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The core claim about Disney acquiring Pixar in 2006 through negotiations between Steve Jobs and Bob Iger is accurate, though there are important corrections to the original statement. The deal was valued at $7.4 billion [1] [2] [3], with one source citing £7.6 billion [4]. The transaction was structured as an all-stock deal, with 2.3 Disney shares issued for each Pixar share [5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial details are missing from the original statement:

  • The deal was structured as an all-stock transaction rather than a cash purchase [5]
  • Steve Jobs became Disney's largest individual shareholder and a non-independent board member as a result of the deal [4] [4]
  • The acquisition was specifically designed to preserve Pixar's creative team and culture [6]
  • The initial discussions took place at Apple headquarters between Iger and Jobs [3]
  • The deal was completed in January 2006 according to one source [2], while another mentions June 2006 [6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The most significant error in the original statement is claiming that Apple sold Pixar to Disney. This is incorrect - Steve Jobs personally owned Pixar and negotiated its sale to Disney [2] [3]. This distinction is important because:

  • It was a strategic move to combine Disney and Pixar's creative resources [5]
  • The deal was carefully negotiated by Jobs to ensure Pixar's creative integrity [6]
  • The transaction resulted in Jobs becoming Disney's largest shareholder [4], which would not have been the case if Apple had been the seller

The statement also oversimplifies what was actually a complex corporate merger designed to preserve Pixar's creative culture while giving Disney access to its animation capabilities.

Want to dive deeper?
Jamal Roberts gave away his winnings to an elementary school.
Did a theater ceiling really collapse in the filming of the latest Final Destination?
Is Rachel Zegler suing South Park?