Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s compensation package received a major hike, making him one of the highest-paid chief executives globally. Over the next three years, Pichai will receive $692 million (Rupees Five Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Crore). This package is mostly based on Google’s market performance and key projects that lead to its growth.
Majority of Pay Linked to Performance
Pichai’s compensation mostly comes from performance stock units (PSUs) valued at $126 million. However, Pachai’s final compensation will mostly depend on Alphabet Inc., the parent company. The payout can go up to $252 million if PSUs perform well and could be zero if performance isn’t up to the mark. Apart from the PSUs, Pichai will also receive compensation up to $84 million from restricted stock in the coming three years. His annual basic salary will be $2 million.
New Incentives Linked to Waymo and Wing
Google recently added two new stock incentives; Growth is connected to the emerging technology businesses. Two projects; one involves autonomous vehicles, and the other involves drones. It is expected that the Google CEO can even receive stocks worth $130 million through the self-driving taxi business and Wing Aviation. Depending on performance, both projects can pay up to 200 percent incentives.
Growth graph of Google under Pichai
Since Pichai took charge in 2015, the market has taken off dramatically. Google’s capitalisation has increased from $535 billion to nearly $3.6 trillion. Pichai has been with Google since 2004 and with each successful project, he gained recognition, leading to his current CEO position.
AI development and new technologies
Even though Google faced criticism for being slow with artificial intelligence, there has been no looking back since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022. Ever since, Google has sped up AI development and integrated many latest technologies into its search platform.
Over the years Google also faced antitrust lawsuits, which Pichai handled very well, he tactfully dealt with the regulatory challenges targeting Google’s search and app store businesses.
Stock Sales and Personal Wealth
In 2022, Pichai received a stock award valued at $218 million. According to financial disclosures, Pichai sold Alphabet stock’s Class C shares for $303 per share, earning $9.8 million. According to Bloomberg Billionaires estimates, since Pichai became CEO, he has sold approximately $650 million worth of stock. Pichai and his wife together hold about 1.67 million Alphabet shares, valued at $498 million. Although Pichai owns a large share in the company, control remains with Google’s founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who hold 56 percent of the company’s shares.
How much do other Tech CEOs earn?
Among top tech companies, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned $96.5 million in fiscal year 2025, primarily from stock awards. On the other hand, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook had a compensation of $74.3 million in 2025.
