Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's compensation increased by 63% to $79.1 million in fiscal 2024, primarily due to stock awards which rose from $39 million to $71 million, reflecting the company's strong performance and market positioning in AI and cybersecurity. Despite this increase, Nadella requested a reduction in his cash incentive from $10.7 million to $5.2 million, citing accountability for recent cybersecurity breaches, including incidents involving Chinese and Russian hackers. Nadella's leadership was credited with Microsoft's success in AI, particularly through its investment in OpenAI. The company's share value rose by 31.2%, contributing significantly to his performance-based stock compensation. Nadella's proactive approach to cybersecurity and his request for a pay cut were seen as reflections of his commitment to the company's security culture.