Not Apple, not Google. The CEO made $96 million in his first four months and received a $5 million signing bonus

Apple and Google chiefs Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai are each worth about $75 million, but Starbucks Corp’s new CEO Brian Nie Brian Niccol’s salary this year is close to $100 million.

Starbucks’ Brian Niccol made $96 million in four months of work in 2024, the fattest payout in corporate America, according to a Bloomberg report.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol salary breakdown

The report adds that approximately 94% of Nicol’s salary comes from stock awards – mostly performance-related and some time-based, vesting over three years. The publication said Niccol, who joined Starbucks in early September 2024, also received a $5 million signing bonus one month after the company’s anniversary, according to company documents.

Documents from January 24 show that more than $143,000 of Nickell’s salary was spent on housing expenses, with nearly 50% tax-related payments; another $72,000 was spent on flights to and from his home in Southern California, according to Bloomberg At Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, about $19,000 was paid for expenses related to other personal use of company aircraft.

Brian Niccol among the 20 highest-paid CEOs

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is one of the highest-paid CEOs in the United States, according to the Bloomberg Compensation Index.

The report estimates Niccol’s annual salary package would be worth about $113 million when he’s hired in September 2024. A lot of it has to do with equity, replacing the reward switch at his previous employer (Chipotle).

Why did Starbucks hire Brian Niccol?

His predecessor Laxman Narasimhan was ousted after his predecessor Laxman Narasimhan suffered a drop in sales amid a global boycott and action by US union workers Later, he took the helm at Starbucks.

Niccol was tapped to turn around Starbucks’ business while leading Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. He was given leeway because he wasn’t moving to Seattle, where Starbucks is located, and the company agreed to pay for temporary housing costs in the area as well as use of the company.

Starbucks said in the filing that Nicole is a “highly sought-after, effective leader with a proven track record” who has experience driving growth for the chain.

(With input from Bloomberg)