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In a move designed to salve the sting of being passed over for the top job, the Walt Disney Company’s number two is reportedly set to earn a base salary that’s 50% higher than her boss.
Dana Walden, previously co-chair of Disney Entertainment, will receive a base salary of $3.75million in her new role, according to reports. That figure is 50% higher than the $2.5million base salary awarded to Josh D’Amaro, the executive selected to succeed outgoing chief executive Bob Iger.
The compensation structure reflects different priorities for each executive, with Walden’s package designed to emphasize guaranteed pay and retention while D’Amaro’s compensation leans more heavily on incentives and long-term equity.
Executive compensation structure reflects succession strategy
Walden’s reported compensation includes a one-time stock award valued at $5.26million and eligibility for an annual bonus worth up to 200% of her base salary. She is also expected to receive $15.75million annually in long-term stock awards, bringing her recurring annual target compensation to approximately $27million, excluding the one-time grant.
D’Amaro’s compensation package is structured differently. In addition to a $2.5million base salary, he is eligible for an annual bonus worth up to 250% of base pay and approximately $26.2million per year in long-term stock incentives. His annual target compensation totals about $35million, excluding a one-time equity award of roughly $9.7 million tied to his promotion.
Although Walden’s base salary is higher, the overall structure maintains a traditional executive hierarchy in which the CEO role carries greater total compensation and long-term earning potential.
Leadership credentials shape CEO selection
D’Amaro brings nearly three decades of experience at Disney. The board reportedly viewed him as a steady operator with deep institutional knowledge and a track record leading the company’s most profitable businesses.
As head of Disney’s parks, experiences and consumer products division, he oversaw the segment responsible for generating the bulk of Disney’s operating income in recent years while managing post-pandemic demand and major capital expansion projects.
Walden was widely considered a strong internal contender for the CEO position, recognized for her leadership of Disney’s television and streaming businesses and her relationships across Hollywood.
One report cited sources who said Walden’s long-standing relationship with former Vice President Kamala Harris may have factored into the final decision. Sources told Variety that Disney leaders worried her appointment could place the company in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.
A Disney source rejected the claim, calling it “completely false” and “uninformed speculation from people who weren’t involved in the decision.”
