Bob Iger rejoins Thrive Capital as advisor after Disney exit

At a glance:

• Bob Iger has rejoined Thrive Capital as an advisor one month after stepping down as CEO of Disney, a position he held for nearly two decades.
• Iger previously served a two-month stint as a venture partner at Thrive in late 2022 before leaving to retake the Disney helm at the board’s request.
• Thrive Capital manages over $50 billion in assets, recently raised $10 billion for its 10th fund, and holds significant stakes in OpenAI, Stripe, SpaceX, and a 7% ownership stake in Cursor.

Iger returns to Thrive Capital post-Disney exit

Bob Iger, the longtime chief executive of Disney, has rejoined venture capital firm Thrive Capital as an advisor, marking his return to the firm just one month after concluding his nearly 20-year tenure leading the media conglomerate. The announcement comes as Iger steps away from Disney for the second time, following an initial departure in 2020 and a subsequent return to the CEO role in late 2022 at the request of the Disney board. Thrive founder Josh Kushner praised Iger’s leadership in a post on X, stating, “Bob leads with boldness and conviction because he knows what he is building and why. He is rejoining Thrive at a time when that kind of leadership matters most.”

Iger is not new to Thrive’s operations: he served a two-month stint as a venture partner at the firm in late 2022, before leaving to retake the Disney helm after the board ousted his successor. Unlike his prior full-time venture partner role, his new advisory position will not require a full-time commitment, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. Iger already holds a personal stake in Thrive, and in his new role will collaborate directly with the firm’s investment staff and founders of companies in its portfolio.

Thrive Capital’s recent growth and portfolio holdings

Thrive Capital has seen rapid growth in recent years, with PitchBook data indicating the firm manages over $50 billion in assets under management. In February 2026, the firm announced it had raised $10 billion in capital commitments for its 10th flagship fund, the largest fundraise in Thrive’s 17-year operating history. The firm has built a reputation for backing high-growth technology and media companies, with a portfolio that includes some of the most valuable private firms in the world.

Thrive’s portfolio includes several high-profile technology and media firms, with significant equity stakes in the following companies. Public reports confirm the firm holds large positions in leading AI, payments, and aerospace startups. Current holdings include:

• OpenAI
• Stripe
• SpaceX
• Cursor (7% ownership stake, with a potential sale to SpaceX valued at ~$4.2 billion per Bloomberg)

Context and next steps for Iger and Thrive

Iger’s return to Thrive comes at a time when the venture capital industry is navigating shifting market conditions, with large funds like Thrive’s 10th fund facing pressure to deploy capital into high-conviction bets. His decades of experience leading a global media conglomerate will likely be valuable to Thrive’s investment team as they evaluate opportunities in the media, technology, and consumer sectors. Portfolio founders working with Thrive can also expect to draw on Iger’s operational expertise, particularly in scaling global consumer-facing businesses.

For Iger, the advisory role offers a way to remain active in the business world without the demands of a full-time CEO position, following his permanent exit from Disney. Thrive has not disclosed a specific timeline for Iger’s advisory work, but given his existing stake in the firm, his involvement is expected to be ongoing. Industry observers will be watching to see if Iger’s presence influences Thrive’s investment strategy in media and entertainment, sectors where he has deep domain expertise.