How Much Does the PayPal Holdings CEO Make?
Alex Chriss, CEO of PayPal Holdings, earned $20.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $10.0M in stock awards and $2,004,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the PayPal Holdings 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.
Alex Chriss leads PayPal Holdings (PYPL), a Fintech company with approximately 25,400 employees. In the 2025 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Alex Chriss's total compensation of $20,040,000 included $2,004,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $10,020,000 in stock awards, and $2,404,800 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at PayPal Holdings is 251:1, meaning the CEO earns 251x the median worker's pay of $80,000. Over the past three years, PayPal Holdings produced a total shareholder return of 10.1% against 5.6% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as B (73/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 86.0% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Moderate shareholder support suggests some investor concern with pay practices.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $20,040,000 |
| Base Salary | $2,004,000 |
| Stock Awards | $10,020,000 |
| Option Awards | $2,404,800 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $3,006,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 251:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | B |
Other Fintech CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Alex Chriss, CEO of PayPal Holdings, earned $20.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $10.0M in stock awards and $2,004,000 in base salary.
Alex Chriss is the chief executive officer of PayPal Holdings (PYPL).
The CEO at PayPal Holdings earns approximately 251 times the median worker's pay of $80,000.
In 2025, total compensation of $20,040,000 was composed of $2,004,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $10,020,000 stock awards, $2,404,800 option awards, and $3,006,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates PayPal Holdings as B (73/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of 10.1%, revenue growth of 5.6%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Alex Chriss, CEO of PayPal Holdings, earned $20.0M in total compensation in 2025, including $10.0M in stock awards and $2,004,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.