Stan Lee Says He Lost Out on Fortune After Disney Deal, Saying He Got Just $6 Million

Stan Lee revealed in an unreleased documentary that he earned only $6 million from a deal with Disney, despite believing the agreement should have made him “indescribably rich.”

As Page Six reported, the film, titled “Stan Lee: The Final Chapter,” captures the late Marvel creator reflecting on his disappointments in business. In a clip shared exclusively with Page Six, Lee admits, “Nobody has made more bad business decisions than I have.”

He explained that Disney had offered him a contract providing ten percent of Marvel’s profits during its acquisition talks.

You would never imagine how Stan lee spent his final 18 months living as a tragic, isolated victim.

Following his wife Joan’s death in July 2017, a broken Stan Lee was surrounded by predatory fake well-wishers.His Business manager Keya Morgan aggressively isolated Lee from… pic.twitter.com/HritQMVXVE— Filmified Guy (@Filmi_fiedGuy) July 2, 2026

“Disney wanted to buy Marvel, and they offered me a contract giving me ten percent of Marvel’s profits, so I said, ‘Man, that’s wonderful,’” Lee recalls in the documentary.

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Lee, known for co-creating iconic heroes such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Incredible Hulk, said he was ultimately advised by a lawyer to take a lump-sum payment instead of profit participation.

According to his account, the attorney convinced him that an upfront deal was the safer option. Lee said he later realized the lawyer “wanted me to take it now because he wanted his share, so I listened to [my lawyer], and I did what he said.”

He disclosed that he received $6 million from the agreement. “I think [the lawyer] took three, so there I was with $3 million,” Lee recounted.

The documentary does not make clear what exactly Lee was selling, as he had been an employee of Marvel and did not own the rights to his comic book creations.

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The Marvel rights have changed hands multiple times, culminating in Disney’s 2009 purchase of the company for $4 billion.

Disney also acquired a stake in Lee’s POW! Entertainment production company. Lee had previously sued Marvel over profits from films based on his characters, eventually settling the case in 2005.

Filmed about a month before his death, Lee’s interview reflects both regret and wistfulness.

He stated, “If I had waited for this contract to come through, I would’ve been part owner of Disney. I would’ve been indescribably wealthy.”

The documentary portrays the creator’s final years as a time of turmoil, depicting legal battles, attempts to control his estate, and allegations of exploitation.

According to producer Jon Bolerjack, the project was ten years in the making and intended to show what Lee endured late in life.

“Witnessing the treatment that Stan endured during those final years, especially at his age, really changes you,” Bolerjack said.

He added that those around Lee “believed they were untouchable,” and he felt compelled to document the experience for both Lee’s legacy and the fans.

The film promises a personal look at the man behind Marvel’s enduring characters, showing how business missteps and misplaced trust shaped his final chapter.

“Sharing the truth about those years is something I owed to Stan and to his fans,” Bolerjack said.

“Stan Lee: The Final Chapter” is set to premiere at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. A Disney spokesperson declined to comment on the claims made in the documentary.

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