In the monomeric title compound, {6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis(nitrilomethylidyne-kappaN)]-4,4'-dimethoxy(diphenolato-kappaO,O')}cobalt(III), the ligand is coordinated via two O and two N atoms and the Co atom exhibits an almost planar coordination sphere with a maximum deviation from planarity of 0.116 (3) angstrom.