Walt Disney had a difficult childhood growing up in Minnesota and had to work from a young age, leaving little time for childhood. He moved to Los Angeles with just a few dollars and started drawing and animating. He created Mickey Mouse in 1928 which became a huge success with the advent of talking films. Disney then pioneered the strategy of synergistic media, adapting his films into other forms of media that advertised each other. This strategy culminated with the hugely profitable opening of Disneyland in 1950. Disney died in 1962 after being diagnosed with lung cancer, overlooking the opening of Disney World, his final dream project.