Microsoft CEO Secured $30 Million Raise This Year Despite 2,500+ Xbox Layoffs

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Received Over $79 Million In Total!

Story Highlight
  • Satya Nadella has received over $79 million in fiscal year 2024.
  • This payment is up by $30 million compared to his compensation last year.
  • Microsoft’s gaming division has struggled with poor hardware sales, thousands of layoffs, and more this year.

It’s no secret that 2024 has been a rocky ride for Xbox. Where Game Pass has finally received its first major day-one Call of Duty and Xbox hosted the best showcase of the year, the gaming giant also laid off thousands of employees.

It may come as a surprise, then, that CEO Satya Nadella’s compensation was higher this year compared to 2023. According to reports, he secured an additional $30 million this year.

Why it matters: The reports highlight a massive discrepancy between the struggling developers and the top brass of the gaming industry.

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According to a recent filing, the CEO was paid $79,106,183 for fiscal year 2024. However, this amount added up to just $48.5 million during the last fiscal year, highlighting an increase of over $30 million.

Of the $79 million, Nadella saw $71.24 million coming from stock awards, $2.5 million from his base salary, and the rest through various forms of compensation. It’s also interesting to note that the CEO’s compensation this year could have been much higher.

This is because he requested that his ‘cash incentive’ be cut due to a 2023 security breach. Anyhow, Microsoft’s overall outlook looks positive under Satya Nadella, resulting in these incredible compensation figures.

In contrast to Microsoft’s overall performance, the Xbox brand has not been at its best in fiscal year 2024. The decision to move forward with a bigger multiplatform focus remains controversial, and Xbox laid off nearly 2,000 employees as early as January 2024.

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This was not the last of Xbox’s layoffs since another wave followed in July. Console sales have also suffered in recent quarters, highlighting a larger problem with the Series S|X hardware.

On a more positive note, 2025 is shaping up to be a much better year for Microsoft’s gaming division. What are your thoughts on Satya Nadella’s incredible compensation in fiscal year 2024? Let’s discuss in the comments and the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

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