Chapter 297: Fit for Building an Empire, Not for Ruling One

A compact Gulfstream jet landed steadily at Burbank Airport.

Martin and Gordon disembarked with small backpacks slung over their shoulders. Jeff had been waiting for some time.

On the way, with Gordon driving, Martin briefly explained the opportunity at hand to Jeff.

After listening, Jeff's face turned red with excitement.

"Oh my God, I never imagined my client would become a Disney shareholder. Disney! Oh, my God!"

"Don't get too excited. I haven't secured the shares yet. You need to stay calm and keep this confidential. I don't want any surprises," Martin warned.

"Understood. My lips are sealed. Even if Grant asks, I won't say a word."

"Uh, my dad doesn't need to be left out like that."

"No, I won't say anything to anyone. I swear."

Seeing Jeff's near-sacrificial earnestness, Martin couldn't help but laugh as he rubbed his nose.

He fully understood Jeff's excitement. As Jeff had said: "This is Disney!"

Inside a private, well-secured suite at the club, Martin sat with Roy Disney and Robert Iger on a circle of plush sofas.

Gordon and Roy Disney's bodyguards stood watch by the door, while Jeff and Iger's assistant sat at a nearby table.

Martin's opening statement startled both Roy Disney and Robert Iger.

"Gentlemen, I've already reached an agreement with Steve Jobs. He's willing to accept $2 billion for the deal."

"What do you mean, Mr. Meyers?" Robert Iger asked, suddenly sitting up straight, unable to conceal his agitation.

Martin waved a hand and cast a glance at the visibly calm Roy Disney, smiling. "Don't get worked up. I'm not helping Michael Eisner; I'm helping you."

"What do you mean?" Robert Iger repeated, his tone more forceful.

Roy Disney calmed himself, stroking his white hair, then pressed a hand on Iger's shoulder, stopping him from standing up. In a raspy voice, he said, "Mr. Meyers, how exactly are you helping us?"

Martin turned to Roy. "Mr. Disney, please, call me Martin. What I'm suggesting is this: rather than relying on Jobs to confront Michael Eisner, why not plant someone Eisner believes he can control—a double agent—who can turn against him at a critical moment? Wouldn't that be more effective?"

"After all, Jobs' actions have already aroused Eisner's suspicion. Right now, he hasn't targeted you, but who's to say he won't in the future?"

"So, Martin, you're saying you'd be that double agent?"

"Yes, exactly."

Martin straightened his back, exuding an imposing aura.

Roy Disney and Robert Iger exchanged a glance. Roy posed the next question: "What do you want in return? Why should we trust you?"

Martin chuckled, sensing their softened stance. It meant the negotiation could proceed.

"I want shares—8.03% of Disney's shares."

"And why should you trust me? Simple. You have no choice. If you don't, I won't hesitate to leak your little schemes to Michael. I haven't done so yet because I want those shares."

Iger's face flushed with anger.

Martin pressed on. "You're not hung up on those shares, are you? What you truly care about is ousting Michael. Otherwise, you wouldn't have privately negotiated with Jobs, using shares as leverage."

"Besides, working with me is far less troublesome than working with Jobs. You've seen how I've handled things at Apple. In the future, when Robert Iger takes the chairman's seat, I'll entrust my voting rights to you."

Hearing this, Iger's expression softened. He glanced at Roy Disney, who then asked, "What's your plan?"

"This is what I propose…"

As Martin elaborated on his strategy, he subtly channeled his influence. The stern looks and doubts on Roy Disney and Robert Iger's faces gradually dissipated, replaced by trust.

By the time Martin finished, Roy Disney even listed several names of board members willing to join their effort to oust Michael Eisner.

On the way back, Jeff was both shocked and contemplative.

"I didn't expect Roy Disney and Robert Iger to have rallied so many people. Michael Eisner pulled Disney out of the mud; how could they abandon him so easily?"

Martin remained unfazed. "It's normal. This is Hollywood, Jeff. This is America. It's a place where self-interest reigns supreme. Eisner is old and out of touch. He can no longer propel Disney forward. Add his domineering personality to the mix—he's offended countless people during his decades in charge. It's only natural they want him gone."

"Do you know how much he's planning to allocate for his retirement package? $500 million!"

"Holy shit! That's insane!" Jeff exclaimed.

Martin chuckled. "Not insane. Just desperate. Eisner knows his time at the top is limited and wants to cash out. But he's forgotten what happens when an aging lion provokes a pack of wolves."

"His stubborn nature means no one can save him. I'm just giving him a little nudge, especially since I don't want my soon-to-be Disney shares to lose value under his reckless spending."

Jeff laughed. "If Eisner gets ousted, it'll be a seismic event in Hollywood. Last year, Fortune ranked him as the most powerful figure in Hollywood."

He continued, "To be fair, he's lived quite the life. Decades of commanding respect in Hollywood and siphoning plenty of Disney's wealth. Remember his mansion in Santa Monica? He charged Disney for that, and it caused an uproar. But the shareholders eventually relented."

Martin remarked, "You don't truly understand the man. Eisner is utterly obsessed with power. Just look at how, at sixty years old, he's still clinging to both chairman and CEO roles at Disney."

"He's also ruthless. Remember Michael Ovitz, the former CAA boss and Eisner's close friend? When Ovitz refused to be a mere puppet, Eisner cast him aside without hesitation."

"And Roy Disney? You know why Roy hates him so much? Eisner was handpicked by Roy, but as his ambition grew, he turned against Roy. He forced Roy to reduce his stake in Disney and even publicly called him a 'pathetic jackass.' Roy's been harboring a grudge ever since."

Martin sighed. "Eisner's inflexible personality made him great at conquering challenges but unfit to sustain an empire."