1 week Ago By Pravrajya Suruchi
Starbucks' new CEO, Brian Niccol, has made headlines by earning nearly USD 100 million in just four months, surpassing prominent tech leaders like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who earned approximately USD 75 million each in 2024. This impressive pay package places Niccol among the highest-paid executives in the United States. Niccol joined Starbucks in September 2024 and received a total compensation of USD 96 million by January 2025, as reported by Bloomberg.
Most of his 94% earnings came from stock awards tied to the company’s performance metrics and spread over three years. Additionally, Niccol was given a USD 5 million sign-on bonus just a month after starting his new role. A detailed company filing dated January 24, 2025, outlined Niccol’s remuneration, which included more than USD 143,000 for housing expenses, nearly half of which went towards taxes.
He also received USD 72,000 for travel between his home in Southern California and Starbucks’ Seattle headquarters. Another USD 19,000 was allocated for personal use of the company aircraft. The Bloomberg Pay Index ranked Niccol among the top 20 highest-paid CEOs in the US.
His total annual compensation, including stock awards to replace those forfeited when he left Chipotle, is estimated at USD 113 million. Niccol became Starbucks CEO after the company dismissed its previous leader, Laxman Narasimhan. Narasimhan faced challenges such as falling sales, unionisation efforts in the US, and global boycott calls.
Starbucks brought in Niccol for his strong leadership experience and reputation for turning around struggling businesses. To ensure Niccol’s smooth transition, Starbucks provided him housing assistance, remote work flexibility, and access to a company jet. The company praised him as a capable and sought-after leader who could guide Starbucks toward future growth.
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