Updated April 2026 · SEC DEF 14A data
Coca-Cola vs Monster Beverage, CEO Pay Comparison
James Quincey, Coca-Cola's CEO, earns $4.0M more in reported total compensation than Hilton Schlosberg at Monster Beverage, based on the most recent SEC DEF 14A proxy filings. Coca-Cola earns a Pay-for-Performance Grade of C; Monster Beverage earns a B.
James Quincey at Coca-Cola ($12.0M) and Hilton Schlosberg at Monster Beverage ($8.0M) are close on total compensation. With pay close, the more interesting comparison is on performance: TSR ran -5.8% versus 20.1% over the three-year window.
CEO compensation comparisons require peer-group context. Compensation committees explicitly select peer groups for setting CEO pay; two companies may use different peer groups even when they appear in similar industries. The full per-company pages surface the disclosed peer-group context.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Coca-ColaKO | Monster BeverageMNST |
|---|---|---|
| CEO | James Quincey | Hilton Schlosberg |
| Industry | Beverages | Beverages |
| Total Compensation | $12.0M | $8.0M |
| Base Salary | $1.2M | $800K |
| Stock Awards | $6.0M | $4.0M |
| Option Awards | $1.4M | $960K |
| Non-Equity Incentive | $1.8M | $1.2M |
| Pay-for-Performance Grade | C (56/100) | B (75/100) |
| CEO-Worker Pay Ratio | 200:1 | 133:1 |
| Median Worker Pay | $60K | $60K |
| Say-on-Pay Approval | 88.6% | 93.6% |
| 3yr Total Shareholder Return | -5.8% | +20.1% |
| Revenue | $46.5B | $7.1B |
| Market Cap | $270.0B | $50.0B |
| Employees | 79,000 | 5,700 |
Reading the Comparison
James Quincey (Coca-Cola) earns $4.0M more than Hilton Schlosberg (Monster Beverage) — a meaningful gap reflecting both pay-package design and the size of the most recent equity grant under FASB ASC 718 grant-date fair value accounting.
On Pay-for-Performance Grade, Monster Beverage edges Coca-Cola 75/100 (B) to 56/100 (C). The 19-point gap usually reflects one or two factors moving in opposite directions — typically say-on-pay vote share or relative TSR.
CEO-to-worker pay ratios diverge meaningfully: 200:1 at Coca-Cola versus 133:1 at Monster Beverage. The gap usually reflects workforce composition — Coca-Cola likely has a larger share of part-time or hourly employees pushing down median worker pay under the SEC Item 402(u) calculation. Monster Beverage's pay package received 93.6% shareholder approval, ahead of Coca-Cola's 88.6%. Both votes are above the 70% scrutiny threshold but the 5.0-point gap indicates somewhat different shareholder views on pay structure.
How These Numbers Are Sourced
Every metric in the comparison table comes from a primary public source. Total compensation, salary, stock awards, option awards, and non-equity incentive figures come from the Summary Compensation Table of each company's most recent DEF 14A — the table the SEC requires every U.S. public company to file annually under Regulation S-K Item 402. CEO-to-worker pay ratio comes from the Item 402(u) disclosure required since 2018. Say-on-pay vote share comes from the 8-K filed within four business days of each annual meeting. 3-year total shareholder return is computed from split-adjusted, dividend-reinvested price data over the most recent 36 months.
The Pay-for-Performance Grade is the four-factor composite documented at methodology: relative TSR (35%), revenue versus compensation growth (25%), say-on-pay vote (25%), and pay ratio versus peers (15%). Authoritative governance frameworks come from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis. Underlying SEC filings for both Coca-Cola and Monster Beverage are available on the EDGAR system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do the CEOs of Coca-Cola and Monster Beverage earn?
James Quincey, CEO of Coca-Cola, earned $12.0M in reported total compensation in the most recently disclosed fiscal year. Hilton Schlosberg at Monster Beverage earned $8.0M. Both figures come from the Summary Compensation Table inside each company's most recent DEF 14A proxy statement.
Which company has better Pay-for-Performance alignment?
On Pay-for-Performance Grade, Monster Beverage edges Coca-Cola 75/100 (B) to 56/100 (C). The 19-point gap usually reflects one or two factors moving in opposite directions — typically say-on-pay vote share or relative TSR. The grade is computed from a four-factor composite: 3-year relative TSR (35%), revenue versus compensation growth (25%), say-on-pay vote (25%), and CEO-to-worker pay ratio versus peers (15%).
How do CEO-to-worker pay ratios compare?
Coca-Cola reports a CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio of 200:1 on its most recent Item 402(u) disclosure; Monster Beverage reports 133:1. CEO-to-worker pay ratios diverge meaningfully: 200:1 at Coca-Cola versus 133:1 at Monster Beverage. The gap usually reflects workforce composition — Coca-Cola likely has a larger share of part-time or hourly employees pushing down median worker pay under the SEC Item 402(u) calculation.
Did shareholders approve each pay package?
Monster Beverage's pay package received 93.6% shareholder approval, ahead of Coca-Cola's 88.6%. Both votes are above the 70% scrutiny threshold but the 5.0-point gap indicates somewhat different shareholder views on pay structure. Say-on-pay is an advisory vote required by Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Act and conducted at each annual shareholder meeting.
Where does this comparison data come from?
Every figure on this page is sourced from public SEC filings: the DEF 14A proxy statement for compensation under Regulation S-K Item 402, the same proxy's Item 402(u) disclosure for pay ratio, the 8-K filed within four business days of each annual meeting for say-on-pay vote share, and the 10-K for revenue, market cap, and employee count. All filings are available on the SEC EDGAR system at https://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Coca-Cola CEO Pay Details
Full compensation breakdown, history, and peer comparison
Monster Beverage CEO Pay Details
Full compensation breakdown, history, and peer comparison
Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, DEF 14A and 8-K filings via EDGAR. Public domain.
Last updated 2026-04-06 · comparing Coca-Cola (KO) and Monster Beverage (MNST).