Jim Anderson Named Highest-Paid CEO in US with $101.5M Package

Jim Anderson, CEO of Coherent Corp., became the highest-paid U.S. chief executive in 2024, earning $101.5 million—nearly all of it from stock awards rather than salary or bonuses. His compensation package outpaced those of more prominent leaders like Starbucks’ Brian Niccol, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Disney’s Bob Iger, reflecting a growing trend toward stock-based pay tied to long-term company performance. Anderson’s appointment at Coherent was met with strong investor approval, as evidenced by a significant rise in the company’s stock, while his previous employer, Lattice Semiconductor, saw its shares fall after his departure. The Equilar 100 study highlighted that median CEO pay at large U.S. companies rose 9.5% to $25.6 million, with stock-based compensation accounting for nearly 75% of total pay and increasing by 40.5% from the prior year. Meanwhile, reports indicate a widening gap between CEO and worker pay, as average worker wages have barely increased. Overall, the data underscores a shift in executive compensation models toward rewarding long-term shareholder value.