Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella saw a record jump in his annual salary in 2025, a year later the signal from this annual package is clear, and it is that Microsoft Board thinks …

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella received a record total compensation package of about $96.5 million during fiscal year 2025. His latest pay package was up around 22% from $79.1 million a year earlier. The increase came as Microsoft reported higher revenue, operating income and cloud growth, with the company’s board citing “exceptional progress in artificial intelligence” and saying Nadella’s leadership had positioned Microsoft as a clear AI leader amid a generational technology shift.The structure of Nadella’s pay package also mirrors the company’s priorities. His 2025 package was worth more than $84 million in stock awards, $2.5 million base salary and $9.5 million in cash bonuses. More than 95% of his target annual compensation is performance-based, and at least 70% of that is equity-based.The package indicates that Microsoft’s board thinks artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud growth will remain central to the company’s performance, with Nadella’s compensation…