How Much Does the Airbnb CEO Make?
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Airbnb CEO Make?. 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 Chesky leads Airbnb (ABNB), a Online Travel company with approximately 6,907 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Brian Chesky's total compensation of $25,000,000 included $2,500,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $12,500,000 in stock awards, and $3,000,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Airbnb is 625:1, meaning the CEO earns 625x the median worker's pay of $40,000. Over the past three years, Airbnb produced a total shareholder return of 9.7% against 11.1% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as D (41/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 87.0% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $25,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $2,500,000 |
| Stock Awards | $12,500,000 |
| Option Awards | $3,000,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $3,750,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 625:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | D |
Other Online Travel CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
Brian Chesky is the chief executive officer of Airbnb (ABNB).
The CEO at Airbnb earns approximately 625 times the median worker's pay of $40,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $25,000,000 was composed of $2,500,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $12,500,000 stock awards, $3,000,000 option awards, and $3,750,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Airbnb as D (41/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 9.7%, revenue growth of 11.1%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, earned $25.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $12.5M in stock awards and $2,500,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.