Disney Agrees to Pay $43.25 Million to Settle Sexual Discrimination Lawsuit

The Walt Disney Company has agreed to a $43.25 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit addressing allegations that it violated California’s Equal Pay Act by compensating women less than their male counterparts for comparable work.

The lawsuit asserted Disney systematically underpaid women compared to men for similar roles, an action allegedly violating state law. While Disney has agreed to the settlement, the company has not admitted wrongdoing.

Eligible class members include women who held specific salaried, full-time, non-union roles at Disney entities in California from April 1, 2015, through December 28, 2024. Positions covered by the settlement are classified below the vice president level and have specific job-level codes, including B1-B4, T1-T4, TL, P1-P6, P2L-P5L, M1-M3, A1-5, E0, E1, and E1X. Notably, the settlement does not cover employees from Hulu, ESPN, Pixar, 21st Century (Fox), FX, National Geographic, Bamtech, ILM, HR compensation roles, in-house employment counsel, or legal support staff directly involved with this lawsuit.

Affected class members will automatically receive compensation without the need to submit a claim form. Each member will receive a minimum payment of $200, although individual amounts could increase based on the total number of participants and related factors.

Class members wishing to exclude themselves or object to the settlement must do so by August 16, 2025. The final court approval hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2025.

The class members can update their contact information through the settlement administrator’s website to ensure they receive timely settlement payments.

Source: Top Class Actions