What David Maisel has said about Marvel Studios

Maisel recounts that his decisive meeting with Ike Perlmutter took place at Mar-a-Lago in 2003.

“my meeting with Ike, funny enough, was at Mar-a-Lago in 2003”

Unblinded with Sean Callagy: How Iron Man Saved Marvel: David Maisel Shares the Real Story with Sean Callagy (May 21, 2026) · Listen from 23:58

Maisel says he won his job by offering to take a minimal salary tied to stock options.

“pay me a very small salary, just so I can pay my rent, and I don't make money unless you make money”

Unblinded with Sean Callagy: How Iron Man Saved Marvel: David Maisel Shares the Real Story with Sean Callagy (May 21, 2026) · Listen from 29:01

Maisel says a 2004 bond bubble let him raise $525 million in debt so Marvel kept all equity.

“I got a deal for 525 million of debt financing, so we kept all the equity”

Unblinded with Sean Callagy: How Iron Man Saved Marvel: David Maisel Shares the Real Story with Sean Callagy (May 21, 2026) · Listen from 29:39

Maisel says Marvel's stock declined for four years after he announced Marvel Studios.

“I announced Marvel Studios on CNBC in 2004, and our stock went down for four years”

Unblinded with Sean Callagy: How Iron Man Saved Marvel: David Maisel Shares the Real Story with Sean Callagy (May 21, 2026) · Listen from 34:49