Michael Eisner

Michael Dammann Eisner was born on March 7, 1942, in Mount Kisco, New York, to an affluent family. He attended the Allen-Stevenson School and The Lawrenceville School before graduating from Denison University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in English. After brief periods at NBC and CBS, Eisner was hired by Barry Diller at ABC, where he steadily advanced to senior vice president. His work at ABC helped the network rise in ratings, and in 1976, he transitioned to Paramount Pictures as president and chief operating officer under Diller.

During his tenure at Paramount from 1976 to 1984, Eisner influenced the studio’s shift towards production, contributing to the creation of successful films like “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grease,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “Terms of Endearment.” He also supported television hits such as “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “Cheers,” and “Family Ties.” In 1984, following Diller’s departure from Paramount, Eisner became the chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. His 21-year period at Disney saw significant growth, including the revitalization of its animation studios with films like “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), and “The Lion King” (1994). He also expanded the company’s media holdings through acquisitions of ABC, most of ESPN, and The Muppets franchise, and oversaw the expansion of theme parks globally.

Eisner’s later years at Disney faced challenges, including internal disputes and a shareholder campaign to “Save Disney,” leading to his resignation as CEO in 2005. Post-Disney, Eisner founded The Tornante Company, an investment firm focusing on media and entertainment, and launched Vuguru, a digital video studio. He also acquired the Topps Company and invested in critically acclaimed animated series like “BoJack Horseman” and “Undone.” In 2017, his Tornante Company acquired Portsmouth F.C., an English football club.