In a startling revelation from behind bars, convicted film producer Harvey Weinstein has claimed that The Walt Disney Company continues to pay him an annual pension of $60,000 while he serves his prison sentence. The 73-year-old former Miramax co-founder made these comments during his first sit-down interview at Rikers Island, where he expressed significant anxiety about his financial future.
Financial Fears Keep Weinstein Awake at Night
Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter in a rare interview published Tuesday that the thought of depleting his resources "keeps me up at night" after spending millions on legal fees. "I had property and other income, but it's not limitless," he explained to the outlet. "Disney cut off my insurance. You know how much I made for that company?"
The disgraced producer, currently awaiting his third trial for alleged sexual assault, went on to assert that he generated substantial revenue for Disney during their partnership. He specifically mentioned publishing the Percy Jackson book franchise, claiming: "I earned billions and billions for Disney and they give me $60,000 a year. And my ex-wife Eve takes half of it."
Weinstein's Complex History with Disney
Weinstein and his brother Bob launched their influential production studio Miramax in 1979, gaining fame for funding successful independent films including Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Reservoir Dogs. The Walt Disney Company acquired Miramax in 1993 for approximately $70 million, initiating a twelve-year relationship that ultimately concluded with the Weinstein brothers departing the group in 2005.
Their exit followed reported clashes with Disney management, particularly former CEO Michael Eisner. According to Wall Street Journal reports from that period, the Weinstein brothers earned around $403 million during their tenure with Disney, including a final payout of $140 million. Disney subsequently sold the studio to Filmyard Holdings in 2010.
Former Disney CEO's Scathing Assessment
Eisner, who served as Disney's chief executive from 1984 to 2005, recently described working with Weinstein as the most challenging aspect of his career. During an appearance on the In Depth podcast in February, the former executive stated: "He lied about everything. How do you deal with somebody who never tells the truth?"
Eisner elaborated further, saying: "He was just a pig. He was rude, but he was a closet intellectual. He looked like a truck driver. He acted like a truck driver. He had great independent film taste and nobody at Disney would deal with him but me. He couldn't tell the truth, he didn't stick to the contracts."
Weinstein's Personal and Legal Circumstances
The $60,000 pension payment Weinstein references is reportedly shared with his first wife, Eve Chilton, to whom he was married from 1987 to 2004. A former assistant at Miramax, Chilton had three daughters with Weinstein: Remy, Emma, and Ruth.
Despite being found guilty of sexual assault in two separate cases—one in his New York retrial last year and another in Los Angeles in 2022—Weinstein has consistently denied ever sexually assaulting anyone. He remains incarcerated while awaiting further legal proceedings.
Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Weinstein's pension claims. The company's silence leaves unanswered questions about the nature and continuation of financial arrangements with the imprisoned former producer.
