Early Years (1939-1960s):
* Martin Goodman: Founded Timely Comics (later Marvel Comics) in 1939. He owned the company for many years, overseeing its early success and struggles.
1960s - 1990s:
* Martin Goodman & Family: The company remained under Goodman family ownership, although he stepped back from day-to-day operations in the 1960s.
1990s:
* New World Entertainment: In 1991, Goodman sold Marvel to this company for $82.5 million.
* Ronald Perelman: New World Entertainment was owned by Ronald Perelman, a businessman who took control of Marvel.
1996:
* Marvel Entertainment Group: Perelman restructured the company and took it public as Marvel Entertainment Group, effectively becoming the first publicly traded comic book company.
1998:
* Toy Biz: Perelman sold Marvel to Toy Biz (later renamed Marvel Enterprises) for $525 million. This was a strategic move, as Toy Biz was already making Marvel toys and had a strong relationship with the company.
2009:
* The Walt Disney Company: In 2009, Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion. This acquisition was a significant moment in the history of the company, giving Disney control over Marvel's characters, intellectual property, and film studios.
Today:
* The Walt Disney Company: Marvel remains a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, and its characters and stories are now a major part of the Disney media empire.