DeSantis vs Disney: How to Lose a Billion-Dollar War

Ron DeSantis declared war on Disney over LGBTQ books and discovered that billion-dollar corporations have better lawyers than small-town politicians. The result: Florida loses $1.3 billion in investment while banned books become bestsellers.

The strategic miscalculation was breathtaking in its scope. DeSantis, flush with presidential ambitions, decided to take on Disney—the company that brings Florida $75 billion annually in economic impact—over its mild criticism of his "Don't Say Gay" legislation.

Corporate America watched carefully. If Florida's governor could casually destroy decades of business relationships for political theater, what other partnerships might be expendable? The answer came quickly.

Disney cancelled its $1.3 billion Lake Nona campus, moving 2,000 high-paying jobs to California. The company relocated film and television production to Georgia. Corporate conferences found new venues. Theme park expansions went into indefinite hold.

The ripple effects multiplied predictably. Netflix moved production facilities to New Mexico. Tech startups accelerated their exodus to Austin and Atlanta. Convention bookings dropped by a third as organizations avoided "controversial" destinations.

Meanwhile, DeSantis's parallel book banning campaign achieved the opposite of its intended effect. Banned books became bestsellers. "Gender Queer" sales increased 1,200%. "The Handmaid's Tale" surged 800%. Publishers scrambled to keep up with demand for forbidden literature.

The irony is perfect. DeSantis launched his culture war to boost presidential prospects by demonstrating executive toughness. Instead, he demonstrated executive incompetence on a billion-dollar scale.

Consider the tactical errors. Fighting Disney required DeSantis to position himself against Florida's largest employer and tourism driver. Book banning required him to appear hostile to education and intellectual freedom. Both policies alienated the educated suburbanites essential to Republican electoral coalitions.

The financial damage compounds daily. Florida's teacher shortage worsens as educators flee hostile environments. University applications decline as students choose less politically volatile destinations. Corporate relocations accelerate as companies seek stable business climates.

Disney's stock price tells the real story. Shares rose 23% during the DeSantis confrontation as investors recognized the company's long-term advantages. Disney owns irreplaceable intellectual property and global distribution networks. DeSantis owns declining poll numbers and expensive legal bills.

The governor's defenders argue he's defending traditional values against woke corporate pressure. But traditional Florida values include economic growth, tourism revenue, and business-friendly policies. DeSantis sacrificed all three for culture war credentials.

The lesson extends beyond Florida. Political extremism has economic consequences. States that prioritize ideological purity over business stability discover that mobile capital and talented workers have alternatives.

Texas learned this lesson during its grid failures and abortion bans. North Carolina learned it during its transgender bathroom law. Florida is learning it now through DeSantis's Disney war.

The ultimate irony? DeSantis's presidential campaign collapsed anyway. He spent billions of Florida's economic capital for political capital that proved worthless. The Mouse House always wins eventually.

Disney will outlast DeSantis by decades. The company was building theme parks before he was born and will be entertaining families long after he's forgotten. Some fights aren't worth picking. Some victories aren't worth winning.

Florida taxpayers are discovering that culture war politics make for expensive governance. The bill for DeSantis's ideological experiment is still being calculated. But Disney's accountants have excellent memories.