Equity compensation, comprising grants of stock awards and stock option awards, is the largest component of CEO pay at S&P 500 companies. Boards align the incentives of CEOs with shareholders through shared stock ownership and stock performance goals. In 2021, 71% of S&P 500 CEO pay packages was awarded in equity compensation–an increase of seven…
The median pay package for C.E.O.s of the biggest U.S. companies reached nearly $15 million last year, setting a record for the sixth consecutive year. Total compensation rose at least 12 percent for most executives, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from MyLogIQ LLC.
Using CompanyIQ® executive compensation data, this report analyzes long-term incentive plans for S&P 500 CEOs from 2019-2021. Key findings include: Roughly 80% of S&P 500 companies employed performance-based LTI awards from 2019 to 2021. The prevalence of performance periods in the range of two to four years declined from 93.4% of LTI metrics in 2019…
The median pay package for chief executives of the biggest U.S. companies reached $14.7 million in 2021, setting a sixth-straight annual record as strong profits and robust markets boosted performance measures. Total compensation rose by at least 12% for most of the executives, and most companies recorded annual shareholder returns of nearly 30%, according to…
How much do CEOs make? Last year, the answer ranged from $0 to nearly $300 million, according to The Wall Street Journal’s annual ranking of S&P 500 companies. The median CEO’s compensation package in 2021 was $14.7 million. Most of that amount comes in the form of equity awards that could ultimately prove to be…
Some market watchers argue that the rise in median executive payouts is a natural consequence of the stiffer competition for scarce business talent, and paying huge executive salaries adds to stockholder value. But as the difference between the average worker’s salary and executive grows wider each year, critics argue that whether they increase productivity or…
Public corporation CEO compensation has been considered excessive in the United States for decades. What these CEOs make is easy to determine, because publicly traded companies are required to disclose the information. Among the groups that have complained most loudly are those who believe CEOs make little contribution to American society. Why should a CEO…
With 89% of S&P 500 companies reporting CEO compensation for 2021 as of the end of April for the 2022 proxy season, we used the CompanyIQ® executive compensation database to analyze elements of CEO compensation, median employee compensation, and CEO pay ratios. Key findings include: $18.5 M = Average CEO Total Compensation $1.2 M =…
A review of R3000 CEO pay in 2021 indicates that: Eleven CEOs at ten Russell 3000 companies earned more than $100 million in 2021 Jeff Green, CEO of Trade Desk, earned the highest reported pay package of nearly $835 million The average total compensation for CEOs making over $100 million was $309 million The average…
Using Company® compensation data, the Wall Street Journal looks at the biggest CEO pay package. Below is an excerpt from the article by Theo Francis. The head of advertising-technology company Trade Desk Inc. received a pay package last year that the company valued at more than $800 million—and which could leave him holding billions of…