How Much Does the Microsoft CEO Make?
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, earned $35.9M in total compensation in 2025, including $18.0M in stock awards and $3,592,200 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Microsoft 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.
Satya Nadella leads Microsoft (MSFT), a Software company with approximately 228,000 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Satya Nadella's total compensation of $35,922,000 included $3,592,200 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $17,961,000 in stock awards, and $4,310,640 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Microsoft is 225:1, meaning the CEO earns 225x the median worker's pay of $160,000. Over the past three years, Microsoft produced a total shareholder return of 2.9% against 1.7% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as D (44/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 94.0% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Strong shareholder support signals broad approval of the pay package.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $35,922,000 |
| Base Salary | $3,592,200 |
| Stock Awards | $17,961,000 |
| Option Awards | $4,310,640 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $5,388,300 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 225:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | D |
Other Software CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, earned $35.9M in total compensation in 2025, including $18.0M in stock awards and $3,592,200 in base salary.
Satya Nadella is the chief executive officer of Microsoft (MSFT).
The CEO at Microsoft earns approximately 225 times the median worker's pay of $160,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $35,922,000 was composed of $3,592,200 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $17,961,000 stock awards, $4,310,640 option awards, and $5,388,300 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Microsoft as D (44/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 2.9%, revenue growth of 1.7%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, earned $35.9M in total compensation in 2025, including $18.0M in stock awards and $3,592,200 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.