How Much Does the Altria Group CEO Make?
Billy Gifford, CEO of Altria Group, earned $18.0M in total compensation in 2024, including $9.0M in stock awards and $1,800,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Altria Group 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.
Billy Gifford leads Altria Group (MO), a Tobacco company with approximately 6,000 employees. In the 2024 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Billy Gifford's total compensation of $18,000,000 included $1,800,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $9,000,000 in stock awards, and $2,160,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Altria Group is 257:1, meaning the CEO earns 257x the median worker's pay of $70,000. Over the past three years, Altria Group produced a total shareholder return of 0.0% against -2.5% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as D (46/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 88.4% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $18,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $1,800,000 |
| Stock Awards | $9,000,000 |
| Option Awards | $2,160,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $2,700,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 257:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | D |
Other Tobacco CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Billy Gifford, CEO of Altria Group, earned $18.0M in total compensation in 2024, including $9.0M in stock awards and $1,800,000 in base salary.
Billy Gifford is the chief executive officer of Altria Group (MO).
The CEO at Altria Group earns approximately 257 times the median worker's pay of $70,000.
In 2024, total compensation of $18,000,000 was composed of $1,800,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $9,000,000 stock awards, $2,160,000 option awards, and $2,700,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Altria Group as D (46/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 0.0%, revenue growth of -2.5%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Billy Gifford, CEO of Altria Group, earned $18.0M in total compensation in 2024, including $9.0M in stock awards and $1,800,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.