Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella received a total compensation of $96.5 million for fiscal 2025, reflecting a significant pay rise linked to Microsoft's strong financial performance and stock growth driven by AI advancements. The company's revenue and profits have surged, with notable growth in Azure and other divisions, while Nadella's pay is heavily performance-based. Other executives also received substantial compensation, and the median employee pay was around $200,972, highlighting a high CEO-to-median employee pay ratio.
Warner Bros. Discovery is restructuring CEO David Zaslav's compensation package to reduce cash pay and increase stock-based incentives, following shareholder opposition and a company split, with the aim of better aligning his incentives with company performance.
Warner Bros Discovery is restructuring its executive compensation, notably reducing CEO David Zaslav's pay following the company's planned split into two entities. Zaslav will receive a new employment agreement with lower annual cash bonuses and equity awards, but also a one-time stock options award tied to stock performance. The split aims to align management incentives with shareholder interests and is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Despite Warner Bros. Discovery's significant financial losses in 2024, CEO David Zaslav received a pay increase, including a cash bonus and stock grants, due to meeting certain financial and strategic goals such as EBITDA, streaming subscribers, cost savings, and successful negotiations with the NBA, which justified his compensation package.
Nissan has announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs and reduce the CEO's salary by 50% as part of a broader corporate restructuring effort aimed at improving financial performance.
CEO compensation in the S&P 500 has reached 196 times that of the median employee in 2023, driven by rising stock prices and significant stock awards. While CEO pay increased by 12.6% to $16.3 million, median employee wages grew by only 5.2% to $81,467. This widening pay gap is causing frustration among workers struggling with high living costs, despite some relief from inflation.
CEO compensation for S&P 500 companies surged nearly 13% in 2023, with median pay packages reaching $16.3 million, significantly outpacing the 4.1% wage increase for private-sector workers. The pay gap between CEOs and average workers continues to widen, with some CEOs earning nearly 200 times more than their median employees. Despite criticism, shareholder support for executive pay remains strong, although some companies like Netflix are making changes following shareholder feedback.
CEO compensation at S&P 500 companies surged nearly 13% last year, with median pay packages reaching $16.3 million, significantly outpacing the 4.1% wage increase for private-sector workers. This disparity highlights growing income inequality, as many CEOs earned nearly 200 times more than their median employees. The trend is driven by boards aiming to retain top leaders amid economic challenges, with a significant portion of CEO pay tied to stock performance. The gap is particularly stark in lower-wage industries, and despite some shareholder pushback, executive pay continues to rise.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's 2023 pay package amounts to $49.7 million, including a $3 million base salary, $23 million in stock awards, and a $22 million cash bonus. This follows a trend of high CEO pay in the industry, with other top executives also receiving substantial compensation. Shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on executive pay at the annual meeting in June.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's 2023 pay package rose to $49.7 million, with a base salary of $3 million, stock awards valued at $23.1 million, a cash bonus of $22 million, and $1.6 million in other compensation. Other senior executives also saw double-digit pay hikes in 2023, tied to free cash flow targets, despite the company's challenges such as shrinking linear TV and advertising businesses and a drop in studio revenue. The company's reported free cash flow for 2023 was $6.16 billion, up 86% year over year, helping to pay down some of its massive debt load.
Citigroup's CEO Jane Fraser's 2023 compensation of $26 million, while a 6% increase from the previous year, pales in comparison to Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon's $31 million. However, these reported figures may not accurately reflect the actual amounts earned, as a significant portion of the compensation is tied to future stock-based and cash incentive awards. Meanwhile, Bill Ackman has entered the top ten best paid hedge fund founders without making major changes to his investment portfolio, and LSE Group has extended parental leave to 26 weeks. Additionally, ExodusPoint has closed its Paris office, tech firms and VCs are returning to San Francisco from Miami, and Barclays aims to increase revenue from lending clients.
Despite a decrease in profits, Goldman Sachs has increased CEO David Solomon's pay by 24%, bringing his total compensation to $35 million for 2021. This decision has sparked criticism as the bank's profits fell by 8% last year, and comes at a time when many companies are facing scrutiny over executive pay amid economic challenges.
After a Delaware judge voided Elon Musk's $56 billion compensation package, the largest in public corporate history, Musk declared a war on the state of Delaware and announced plans to hold a shareholder vote to incorporate Tesla in Texas. The court decision raises questions about corporate board and executive relationships, and Musk's campaign to move companies out of Delaware adds to mounting challenges to the state's reputation as the first choice for incorporation. However, experts are skeptical about a mass exodus from Delaware due to its business-friendly corporate law and specialized court.
Elon Musk plans to move Tesla's incorporation from Delaware to Texas after a Delaware judge ruled against his $55.8 billion pay deal, which was deemed "flawed" and "unfair." The move is seen as a way to avoid Delaware's tax laws and business courts. Musk's pay package, much larger than usual, has sparked legal action from shareholders. Business law experts say any new pay package for Musk will likely face legal challenges without independent directors or changes in the decision process for pay.
A Delaware judge voided Elon Musk's $55.8 billion Tesla pay package, calling it an "unfathomable sum" that was unfair to shareholders. The lawsuit was filed by a shareholder who claimed that Musk had close ties with the Tesla board and too much say in negotiations. Musk and Tesla argued that ensuring Musk continued to lead the company was critical to its future and that the deal made concessions to shareholders. The judge ruled that Musk controlled Tesla and the board failed to prove the fairness of the compensation plan. Tesla board members now face the challenge of negotiating a new pay package that has the approval of shareholders and Musk, who recently demanded an increase in his ownership stake in the company.
