Did the Target CEO Get a Raise?
Yes. Brian Cornell's total compensation rose 7% to $21.8M in 2026, from $20.4M in 2025, per Target's SEC DEF 14A filings.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: Did the Target CEO Get a Raise?. The answer draws on SEC DEF 14A proxy statements, the public disclosure mechanism for U.S. public-company executive pay. Every public company must file an annual proxy statement disclosing CEO and named-executive-officer compensation in detail. Why this matters for shareholders: executive compensation is the single most-disclosed governance metric at U.S. public companies, and the Dodd-Frank-mandated say-on-pay vote gives shareholders an explicit channel to express approval or dissent. Reading pay data well — including pay-versus-performance, peer-group selection, and time-vesting structures — is a basic part of stock-by-stock fundamental analysis.
The detailed answer below uses the actual proxy-statement filings, explains how to read them, and translates the executive-compensation accounting into the shareholder-relevant interpretation.
Brian Cornell Pay: 2025 → 2026
- 2026 total comp
- $21,830,088
- 2025 total comp
- $20,407,603
- Change ($)
- +$1,422,485
- Change (%)
- +7%
Source: Target SEC DEF 14A proxy statements, 2025 and 2026 Summary Compensation Tables.
In its latest proxy statement, Target reported Brian Cornell's 2026 total compensation at $21,830,088 — up $1,422,485 (7%) from $20,407,603 in 2025. The biggest single driver was stock awards, which fell $NaN.
Across the disclosed history, Brian Cornell's total pay has run: 2022, $19.8M; 2023, $17.7M; 2024, $19.2M; 2025, $20.4M; 2026, $21.8M. CEO compensation is lumpy year to year because equity grants — the largest component — are often awarded in multi-year blocks rather than evenly, so a single year's jump or drop can reflect grant timing as much as a change in pay philosophy.
Whether a raise is warranted ties back to performance: Target posted a -4.3% three-year total shareholder return on -0.5% revenue growth, and the package carries a CEOPay Pay-for-Performance grade of C (54/100).
Compensation Detail
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $21,830,088 |
| Base Salary | $NaN |
| Stock Awards | $NaN |
| Option Awards | $NaN |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $NaN |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 682:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | C |
Other Retail CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Brian Cornell's total compensation rose 7% to $21.8M in 2026, from $20.4M in 2025, per Target's SEC DEF 14A filings.
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, earned $21.8M in total compensation in 2026, including $NaNM in stock awards and $NaN in base salary.
In 2026, total compensation of $21,830,088 was composed of $NaN base salary, $NaN cash bonus, $NaN stock awards, $NaN option awards, and $NaN in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Target as C (54/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of -4.3%, revenue growth of -0.5%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Brian Cornell is the chief executive officer of Target (TGT).
More about Target
Yes. Brian Cornell's total compensation rose 7% to $21.8M in 2026, from $20.4M in 2025, per Target's SEC DEF 14A filings.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.