Brian Niccol's "Back to Starbucks" plan is bearing fruit, with lower declines in sales figures.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Retail CEOs don't typically get the same rockstar treatment as tech execs, but they're in high demand and well-paid.
Publicly traded companies must disclose their executives' compensation details in annual filings.
Here's what the CEOs of 30 top retail chains made last year.
Retail is a tough industry where top brands post massive revenue figures, employ hundreds of thousands of people, and chase relatively tight profit margins.
And while retail CEOs don't usually see the same rockstar treatment that tech execs enjoy, they are still in high demand.
Leaders of these large retail chains are often paid eight-figure compensation packages for managing this complexity, based on Business Insider's analysis of proxy filings over the past year.
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol was among the 100 top-paid CEOs in the S&P 500 last year, the most recent period when executive compensation data is available. Niccol's compensation included hefty signing bonuses for leaving his job at Chipotle.
While some CEOs, including Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, may not be fans of pay disclosure rules and their impact on executive pay packages, the numbers offer an interesting insight into how companies value their CEOs.
The pay packages typically consist of a base salary, plus stock awards, cash bonuses (i.e., non-equity incentives), and other perks, like 401 (k) contributions and private jet usage.
Here's what the CEOs of 30 of the largest restaurant and retail chains made last year, in ascending order.
Ryan Cohen of GameStop: $268,553
Ryan Cohen
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen's pay package consisted exclusively of a $268,553 security detail that the company provides for him.
Andy Jassy of Amazon: $1.60 million
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy
Noah Berger/Noah Berger
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made nearly $1.6 million last year, which included a base salary of $365,000 and more than $1.1 million in travel and security expenses. Company filings also show he had more than $274 million worth of restricted Amazon stock that had not yet vested as of December 31.
Todd Vasos of Dollar General: $2.15 million
Todd Vasos
Courtesy of Dollar General
Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos took home $2.15 million last year, which included a base salary of $1.4 million, $214,849 in non-equity incentives, and $406,581 from the personal use of the company airplane and related ground transportation.
Brad Beckham of O'Reilly Automotive: $2.83 million
Geri Lavrov/Getty Images
Brad Beckham of O'Reilly Automotive made over $2.8 million last year on a base salary of $971,154, plus $1.25 million in options and $500,000 in non-equity incentives.
Gerald Morgan of Texas Roadhouse: $6.19 million
Terri Peters
Texas Roadhouse CEO Gerald Morgan made nearly $6.2 million last year on a $1.3 million base salary, plus $2.6 million in stock awards and $2.3 million in non-equity incentives.
Michael Creedon of Dollar Tree: $7.6 million
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree CEO Michael Creedon made about $7.6 million in his first fiscal year as CEO with a base salary of $1 million, stock awards of $4.8 million, options of $1.2 million, and non-equity incentives of $608,300. Because he only served part of the year, the company said his total annualized earnings were closer to $9.2 million.
William Stengel of Genuine Parts Company: $7.72 million
Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Genuine Parts Company CEO William Stengel, who took on the role in June 2024, made over $7.7 million last year. That included a base salary of $911,667, $5.5 million in stock awards, and nearly $1 million in non-equity incentives.
Russell Weiner of Domino's Pizza: $8.94 million
Domino's
Domino's Pizza CEO Russell Weiner made $8.9 million last year, which included a base salary of $913,462, plus $4.4 million in stock awards, $1.4 million in options, and nearly $2 million in non-equity incentives. He also did $194,419 worth of personal travel on the company airplane.
Philip Daniele of AutoZone: $9.64 million
Jakub Porzycki/Reuters
AutoZone CEO Philip Daniele's $9.6 million package included a $1 million base salary, plus $7.2 million in stock options and $1.25 million in non-equity incentives.
Darren Rebelez of Casey's General Stores: $10.68 million
Casey's via Business Wire
Darren Rebelez of Casey's General Stores made nearly $10.7 million on a $1.2 million base salary, $7.35 million in stock, and $1.9 million in non-equity incentives.
Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply Co: $11.78 million
Tractor Supply Co.
Tractor Supply Co. CEO Hal Lawton made nearly $11.8 million last year on a $1.3 million base salary, plus $6.5 million in stock awards, $2.2 million in options, and $1.7 million in non-equity incentives.
Jack Sinclair of Sprouts Farmers Market: $12.24 million
Sprouts Farmers Markets
Sprouts Farmers Market CEO Jack Sinclair made nearly $12.24 million last year on a $1.2 million base salary, plus stock awards of $4.2 million, options worth $1.4 million, and non-equity incentives of $5.4 million.
Ron Vachris of Costco: $12.3 million
Costco's new CEO Ron Vachris
Costco
Costco CEO Ron Vachris made $12.3 million, comprising a base salary of $1.1 million, plus $10.6 million in stock awards, and $434,333 in non-equity incentives. He also used about $56,000 worth of travel on the company aircraft and received a complimentary Executive Membership to his club valued at $120.
Lauren Hobart of Dick's Sporting Goods: $12.92 million
Lauren Hobart, CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods
Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Lauren Hobart made nearly $13 million last year with a $1.3 million base salary, $7.5 million in stock awards, and $3.8 million in non-equity incentives.
Bob Eddy of BJ's Wholesale Club: $13.61 million
BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club CEO Bob Eddy made over $13.6 million last year with a base salary of $1.35 million, stock awards of $9.5 million, and non-equity incentives of $2.4 million. He also used a private plane for travel — a benefit worth $199,215.
Joshua Kobza of Restaurant Brands Inc.: $14.47 million
RBI
Joshua Kobza, CEO of Restaurant Brands Inc. — owner of chains like Burger King and Tim Horton's — made about $14.4 million last year on a $941,667 base salary, stock awards of $11.6 million, non-equity incentives of $1.1 million, and tax equalization of $749,167.
Vivek Sankaran of Albertsons: $15.24 million
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The former CEO of grocery chain Albertsons, Vivek Sankaran, made $15.24 million in that role last year. That included a $1.5 million base salary, $11.5 million in stock, and nearly $2.1 million in non-equity incentives.
Ted Decker of Home Depot: $15.57 million
Courtesy of The Home Depot
Home Depot CEO Ted Decker made nearly $15.6 million last year with a base salary of $1.4 million, stock awards worth $9 million, options of $2.2 million, and non-equity compensation of $2.7 million.
Rodney McMullen of Kroger: $15.63 million
Mike Blake/Reuters
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen took home more than $15.6 million last year with a $1.4 million base salary, $10.6 million in stock awards, $2.6 million in options, and nearly a million dollars in deferred and other compensation.
Corie Barry of Best Buy: $16.15 million
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry shared her future diversity plans with Insider.
Best Buy
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry made $16.1 million last year, comprising a base salary of $1.3 million, stock awards of $12.5 million, and non-equity incentives of $2.1 million.
Barbara Rentler of Ross Stores: $16.99 million
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Former Ross Stores CEO Barbara Rentler made nearly $17 million last year, with a $1.4 million base salary, plus $10.7 million in stock awards and $4.6 million in non-equity incentives.
Chris Kempczinski of McDonald's: $18.20 million
AP Photo/Richard Drew
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski earned nearly $18.2 million in 2022, comprising a base salary of $1.5 million, stock awards of $7.5 million, and options of $7.5 million. He also received nearly $855,000 in non-equity incentives and over $811,000 in other compensation. His personal use of the company aircraft cost about $400,000.
Scott Boatwright of Chipotle: $19.14 million
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright took home $19.1 million with a base salary of $768,461, stock awards of $14.6 million, options of $2 million, and non-equity incentives of $1.6 million.
Marvin Ellison of Lowe's: $20.16 million
Courtesy of Lowe's
Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison made over $20.1 million in 2022, comprising a base salary of $1.5 million, stock awards of $12 million, options valued at $3.75 million, and non-equity incentives of $3 million.
Brian Cornell of Target: $20.41 million
Target chairman and CEO Brian Cornell appears on CNBC in 2014.
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Outgoing Target CEO Brian Cornell made $20.4 million last year, that included a base salary of $1.4 million, a bonus of $785,400, stock awards of $16.1 million, and non-equity incentives of $1.5 million. His use of the company aircraft for personal trips (for security reasons) was worth an additional $338,669.
Ernie Herrman of TJX Companies: $23.48 million
Getty
Ernie Herrman, CEO of TJX — parent company of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, and more — made nearly $23.5 million last year with a base salary of $1.7 million, stock awards of $12.6 million, non-equity incentives of $7 million, as well as $2.2 million in deferred and other compensation.
David Gibbs of Yum Brands: $24.71 million
Yum Brands
Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs made over $24.7 million last year with a $1.3 million base salary, plus $9.5 million in stock awards, $3 million in options, $1.7 million in non-equity compensation, and an $8.5 million adjustment to the valuation of his company pension plan.
Doug McMillon of Walmart: $27.41 million
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Walmart Inc. President and CEO Doug McMillon delivers a keynote address during CES 2024 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on January 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 4,000 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 130,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon made $27.4 million last year with a base salary of $1.5 million, stock awards of $20.4 million, non-equity incentives of $4.4 million, and $1.1 million in deferred and other compensation. Roughly $275,000 of that other compensation was due to personal use of the company aircraft, typically for security reasons.
Laura Alber of Williams-Sonoma: $27.69 million
Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images
Laura Alber, CEO of Williams-Sonoma — which owns brands like West Elm and Pottery Barn — took home nearly $27.7 million last year thanks to a base salary of $1.6 million, $16 million in stock, and $10 million in non-equity incentives.
Brian Niccol of Starbucks: $95.8 million
Brian Niccol speaks at the Starbucks Leadership Experience in June
AP Photo/John Locher
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who took on the role in September 2024, topped the year's list with a signup bonus-enhanced compensation package of more than $95.8 million.
The details include a $61,000 base salary, stacked with a $5 million bonus and $90.3 million in stock awards. He also received $143,567 for temporary housing expenses, $127,765 in personal security services, and $72,398 to fly on the company aircraft between his home and Starbucks' Seattle headquarters.
Niccol's subsequent pay packages, while still large, are set to be a fraction of what he got for his first year on the job.
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