How Much Does the Palo Alto Networks CEO Make?
Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Palo Alto Networks 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.
Nikesh Arora leads Palo Alto Networks (PANW), a Cybersecurity company with approximately 15,800 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Nikesh Arora's total compensation of $12,000,000 included $1,200,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $6,000,000 in stock awards, and $1,440,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Palo Alto Networks is 80:1, meaning the CEO earns 80x the median worker's pay of $150,000. Over the past three years, Palo Alto Networks produced a total shareholder return of 51.6% against 28.4% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as A (97/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 87.2% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $12,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $1,200,000 |
| Stock Awards | $6,000,000 |
| Option Awards | $1,440,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $1,800,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 80:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | A |
Other Cybersecurity CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Nikesh Arora is the chief executive officer of Palo Alto Networks (PANW).
The CEO at Palo Alto Networks earns approximately 80 times the median worker's pay of $150,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $12,000,000 was composed of $1,200,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $6,000,000 stock awards, $1,440,000 option awards, and $1,800,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Palo Alto Networks as A (97/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 51.6%, revenue growth of 28.4%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, earned $12.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $6.0M in stock awards and $1,200,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.