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Robert Iger
Robert Iger DIS
Senior Advisor & Director, Walt Disney Co
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Bob Iger | Disney Legends | D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 4K

📅 Aug 23, 2026 Daps Magic - Disney News and Positive Stuff 22 MIN 137 VIEWS 55 SEGMENTS · 9 SPEAKERS
Watch as former Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger is inducted as a Disney Legend at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in crystal-clear 4K! Introduced by current Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, Iger is celebrated by a star-studded lineup of friends and icons including Al Michaels, Diane Sawyer, Alan Silvestri, Jon Favreau, and Harrison Ford. Watch as Iger reflects on his 50-year career with ABC and Disney—including the famous story of trading Al Michaels for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit—followed by a stunning performance of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" by Samantha Barks and the grand finale...

What Robert Iger said

Written from the verified transcript and checked against it. Every figure links to the moment it was said.

Bob Iger, honored as a Disney Legend at D23, reflected on his career and the people who shaped it. He recalled being in the arena when Al Michaels called the 1980 US-Soviet hockey game and revealed the story behind his famous trade of Al Michaels to NBC for the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character Walt Disney created. Iger praised his successor, Josh D'Amaro, and emphasized the role of executives as supporters of creative talent, naming Jerry Bruckheimer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dwayne Johnson, and Anne Hathaway. He thanked his wife Willow and son Max, noting Max was two when Iger became president and COO. Iger acknowledged being named CEO 20 years ago and expressed gratitude to audiences, subscribers, moviegoers, park guests, and D23 members.

Key takeaways

  1. Iger traded Al Michaels to NBC for the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character Walt Disney created.
  2. Iger was in the arena when Al Michaels called the 1980 US victory over the Soviet Union.
  3. Iger praised Josh D'Amaro as his successor, saying he is proud to call him that.
  4. Iger said executives support creators, naming Jerry Bruckheimer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dwayne Johnson, and Anne Hathaway.
  5. Iger was named CEO of Disney 20 years ago.

Numbers and commitments

FigureWhat it refers toTypeAt
20 years ago When Iger was named CEO of Disney timeline 17:37
27 years old Age of Iger's son Max metric 17:03

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and tribute
  2. 4:49Al Michaels' tribute
  3. 6:25Diane Sawyer's tribute
  4. 8:21Ellen Pompeo's tribute
  5. 9:16Robert Harrison's tribute
  6. 10:24Iger's acceptance speech
  7. 13:10Oswald the Lucky Rabbit trade story
  8. 15:04Praise for successor and creators
  9. 16:46Thanks to family and audience
Host 0:05 ↗
And now to introduce our final legend of the night. Please welcome back to the stage tomorrow.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn't say a few words about our final Disney legend, because I'm pretty sure if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be standing here right now.
Now, when people talk about Bob Iger, they often start with his extraordinary accomplishments. And they do this for very good reason. He is one of the most consequential business leaders of our time, a visionary who was willing to take these big bold risks to empower creative talent and to imagine possibilities that other people just couldn't see.
His impact on Disney and the entertainment industry as a whole, it is absolutely impossible to overstate.
Bob's always known that none of us own this brand. We're just its stewards. And he never built for the moment. He built for what lasts. And that is what legends do.
But what I've always admired most about Bob, it's not necessarily what he's accomplished. It is who he is. He leads with integrity, leads with optimism. He treats everyone with respect and he cares deeply about people, about Disney, and about the stories that we share with the whole world.
I've been fortunate to get to work alongside him and his friendship has meant more than I can say.
And so tonight, I couldn't be prouder to celebrate Bob and just as importantly, the remarkable example he set for all of us along the way. Please take a look.
Narrator 2:17 ↗
Amen. I am Bob Iger. Let's talk about Bob Iger. 50 years at the Walt Disney Company, leading with vision, integrity, purpose. His enduring legacy isn't just what Disney became. It's the people who he inspired and the stories that will live on for generations.
Unknown 2:31 ↗
A core tenet of ours is to create change and not just to sit back and watch it happen.
Thank you, Bob, for all your leadership, for optimism. He has vision, he has heart, and he's never lost track of who he is.
Every opportunity I've had to work with you, you have shown remarkable integrity. He's been my mentor and friend of mine.
Yes.
I've known Bob Iger for 35 years and he has not aged a day.
He's a great leader, but Bob's got some humility. He lifts you up. He makes you be the best that you possibly can be. And that to me is more of a true leader.
You've inspired me to be a better filmmaker, overall better person. You got to face it. You got to embrace it. You can't erase it. You replace it.
Bob is one of those people that is both in the position of great power but also deeply good and that's a pretty rare thing. He has made a major contribution to the Disney legacy.
I have so much respect for who you are as a businessman, as a father, as a human being. Congratulations.
Robert Iger 3:42 ↗
It just happened so fast. If I were to learn one lesson, the lesson would be enjoy what you do because you won't do it well unless you do.
Unknown 3:54 ↗
Did this make my end?
Host 4:12 ↗
Now everyone please join me in welcoming Al Michaels, Diane Sawyer, Ellen Pompeo, Robert Harrison.
Al Michaels 4:49 ↗
Well, I have known Bob Iger for 50 years, half a century. What's new in your world?
Bob was a program manager at ABC Sports. We traveled the world together. Paris, St. Moritz, Monaco, Cleveland, Kansas City. I knew that would get some response.
We saw it all. And Bob was unique because those of us on the creative end rarely looked lovingly at those on the business end because we were making art or some form of it and they were making money and profits. But at ABC Sports, we all loved Bob. And that included Jim McKay, Frank Gifford, Keith Jackson, and included the always cantankerous Howard Cosell.
Even Howard loved Bob. And I'll say something. Well, he may have been a business guy, but Bob had star power. And he went on to become the perfect choice to protect the Disney brand and shepherd two decades worth of incredible Disney magic and growth.
Congratulations, man. Slam dunk.

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APA

Iger, R. (2026, August 23). Bob Iger | Disney Legends | D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 4K [Interview transcript]. Daps Magic - Disney News and Positive Stuff. CEOInterviews.AI. https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/1249411/

MLA

Robert Iger. "Bob Iger | Disney Legends | D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 4K." Daps Magic - Disney News and Positive Stuff, 23 Aug. 2026. Transcript, CEOInterviews.AI, https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/1249411/.

BibTeX 
@misc{iger2026_1249411,
  author       = {Robert Iger},
  title        = {Bob Iger | Disney Legends | D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 4K},
  howpublished = {Interview transcript, Daps Magic - Disney News and Positive Stuff. CEOInterviews.AI},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = {aug},
  url          = {https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/1249411/},
  note         = {Speaker-attributed transcript with timestamps}
}