In 2023, Broadcom’s CEO Hock Tan was granted a stock award worth $161 million, propelling him into the realm of highest-paid CEOs.

However, as the company’s share price surged, the value of Tan’s award skyrocketed to approximately $1.3 billion, outpacing even the shareholders’ annual returns.

Tan’s compensation reflects a broader trend among top executives in the tech sector, where awards of restricted stock and stock options surged in value alongside company share prices.

Notably, CEOs like Charles Robbins of Cisco Systems and Shantanu Narayen of Adobe also saw substantial increases in their compensation, doubling in some cases.

The disclosure of such equity growth in executive compensation is a new requirement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing shareholders with insights into the changing value of executives’ awards throughout the year.

CEO pay is on the rise.

New heights

Overall, CEO pay at major S&P 500 companies reached new heights in 2023, rebounding from slower growth in the previous year. The median pay for these CEOs rose to $15.6 million, up from $14.1 million in 2022, reflecting a surge in equity awards.

Broadcom clarified that Tan’s stock award is designed to span five years, with no plans for additional equity grants or cash bonuses during that period.

Tan’s compensation, which amounts to approximately $33 million annually over five years, is contingent upon his continued tenure and specific share price targets.

While the initial valuation of Tan’s restricted shares stood at $160.5 million, the surge in Broadcom’s share price prompted the company to reassess the likelihood of meeting vesting conditions.

This reassessment suggests that Tan may not receive all the shares initially granted.