‘Summer time camp for billionaires’: Enterprise moguls noticed at Solar Valley resort

SUN VALLEY, Idaho – Disney boss Bob Iger made the largest splash throughout Wednesday’s kickoff at Allen & Co.’s “summer camp for billionaires,”  asserting he’ll keep on to run the Mouse Home via 2026.

The corporate’s board gave the 72-year-old Iger a two-year contract extension, quelling rampant hypothesis about Disney’s succession plan – which had emerged as a prime storyline among the many nation’s enterprise titans who gathered on the swanky Sun Valley resort for the annual conference.

Iger, who’s within the thick of a turnaround effort following Disney’s prolonged inventory slide final 12 months, was all smiles within the Idaho warmth even earlier than information broke of the deal.

“Every thing’s been good,” a casually dressed Iger informed The Submit whereas getting into an outside lunch occasion on the resort grounds.

Iger was joined by two of his prime Disney lieutenants, theme parks chairman Josh D’Amaro and leisure division boss Dana Walden – each thought-about a possible inheritor to his throne.

“Regardless of the challenges, I consider Disney’s long-term future is extremely vivid,” Iger stated later within the day. “However there’s extra to perform earlier than this transformative work is full, and since I need to guarantee Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm, I’ve agreed to the Board’s request to stay CEO for an extra two years.”

Iger has expertise with a foul handover. He returned as CEO late final 12 months to interchange Bob Chapek, his hand-picked successor.

Different moguls had been extra tight-lipped as they moved out and in of the world that hosted an outside cookout, the place barbeque smoke might be seen streaming behind tall hedges that obstructed a view of the shindig.

OpenAI boss Sam Altman, one other closely-watched visitor at Solar Valley this 12 months, was noticed strolling out of the lunch together with his accomplice, Australian software program engineer Oliver Mulherin. 

Altman didn’t tip his hand about any upgrades to ChatGPT however did weigh in in regards to the potential cage match between his fellow tech titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg – although he wouldn’t reveal his decide to win the bout.

Elsewhere, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft – who famously feuded over the league’s dealing with of the “DeflateGate scandal” – had been seen deep in dialog whereas strolling to lunch collectively.

The overwhelming majority of bigwigs had been camera-shy, with some strolling throughout an enormous inexperienced garden slightly than cross paths with reporters.

Paramount International chairwoman Shari Redstone was one of many few high-profile friends to acknowledge a small group of reporters forward of the primary session of the day at 8:30 a.m. native time, giving a hurried greeting as she stopped by the close by Konditorei espresso store.

“You guys are gonna go down as the one individuals who get to take my image earlier than espresso,” a smirking Redstone stated as she rushed previous the world with a big espresso in hand.

Different notable attendees who stopped by included former Fb govt Sheryl Sandberg, who shouted “Hey y’all” from throughout the courtyard whereas holding fingers with husband Tom Bernthal.

Whereas most attendees had been nonetheless within the morning session, The Submit noticed Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos scurrying throughout the grounds towards Solar Valley’s famed duck pond — and witnessed his unusual encounter with Mom Nature. Sarandos was pressured to duck and break into an evasive jog after a black chicken perched in a close-by tree randomly swooped towards his head.

“You nearly simply noticed me get attacked by a chicken,” a sheepish Sarandos stated as he walked previous.

After the morning seminar, which lasted practically three hours, a procession of billionaires and enterprise titans walked throughout the grounds to lunch. Amongst these noticed leaving the powwow had been billionaire and former New York Metropolis Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was additionally seen getting into the cookout. He stated the morning seminar had been “nice.”

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who reportedly traveled to Solar Valley to speak in regards to the Biden administration’s bid to boost domestic computer chip production, ambled alongside subsequent to her husband, Andrew Moffit. 

Palantir Applied sciences CEO Alex Karp gave a cheery wave and greeting whereas briskly strolling previous the press pen, and Alice + Olivia founder and designer Stacey Bendet struck a collection of poses to indicate off an elegant blue-and-yellow outfit that included a hat and a pair of big sun shades.

The one visitor who stopped to speak with reporters after the morning talks was lawyer Bob Werbel, who stated he has attended the convention for the reason that Nineteen Eighties.

“I’m the one one right here I’ve by no means heard of,” Werbel quipped.