Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol received a $96 million compensation package, primarily in stock awards, after four months in the role. He also received a $5 million sign-on bonus and incurred significant housing and travel expenses as he worked to turn the company around.

Starbucks Corp granted its new chief executive Brian Niccol about US$96 million (S$129 million) after four months of work last year, one of the biggest compensation packages in corporate America. About 94 per cent of Mr Niccol’s pay came from stock awards,

The pay for Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, formerly with Chipotle Mexican Grill, is one of the biggest compensation packages in corporate America.

Granted, most of his pay package was for the value of the stock and options he held at Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE: GMG ), where he had been CEO previous to his move to Starbucks. It is an acknowledgement of how important it was to the Starbucks board to get him as the company’s leader.

The coffee giant brought Niccol in from Chipotle Mexican Grill, hoping that his experience could revitalise the company and reverse its financial slump.

Brian Niccol’s compensation includes buyouts of Chipotle Mexican Grill shares awarded during his six-year tenure leading that chain.

Brian Niccol became Starbucks' CEO in September. By the end of 2024, he'd earned nearly $100 million running the coffee giant, new filings say.

Since Brian Niccol was hired at Starbucks in September, it's hard to argue his compensation hasn't been grande. A new company securities filing shows that the chief executive and chairman has collected about $96 million,