How Much Does the Target CEO Make?
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, earned $8.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $4.0M in stock awards and $800,000 in base salary.
This page answers a common executive-compensation question: How Much Does the Target 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 Cornell leads Target (TGT), a Retail company with approximately 440,000 employees. In the 2026 proxy statement filed with the SEC, Brian Cornell's total compensation of $8,000,000 included $800,000 in base salary, $0 in cash bonus, $4,000,000 in stock awards, and $960,000 in option awards.
The CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio at Target is 250:1, meaning the CEO earns 250x the median worker's pay of $32,000. Over the past three years, Target produced a total shareholder return of -4.3% against -0.5% revenue growth. Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates the alignment as C (54/100).
In the most recent say-on-pay vote, 91.3% of shareholders approved the executive compensation plan. Strong shareholder support signals broad approval of the pay package.
Key Data
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Compensation | $8,000,000 |
| Base Salary | $800,000 |
| Stock Awards | $4,000,000 |
| Option Awards | $960,000 |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $1,200,000 |
| CEO-to-Worker Pay Ratio | 250:1 |
| Pay-Performance Grade | C |
Other Retail CEOs
Frequently Asked Questions
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, earned $8.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $4.0M in stock awards and $800,000 in base salary.
Brian Cornell is the chief executive officer of Target (TGT).
The CEO at Target earns approximately 250 times the median worker's pay of $32,000.
In 2026, total compensation of $8,000,000 was composed of $800,000 base salary, $0 cash bonus, $4,000,000 stock awards, $960,000 option awards, and $1,200,000 in non-equity incentive compensation.
Our Pay-for-Performance Score rates Target as C (54/100), based on three-year total shareholder return of -4.3%, revenue growth of -0.5%, and shareholder say-on-pay vote approval.
Brian Cornell, CEO of Target, earned $8.0M in total compensation in 2026, including $4.0M in stock awards and $800,000 in base salary.
Source: SEC EDGAR DEF 14A proxy statements, 2026.