Major US Firms Spent $600 Million on Executive Perks
1,500 of the largest US public firms collectively spent nearly $600 million on perks for top executives. This spending includes personal security and aircraft use, contrasting with widespread public concerns about living costs.
Major US corporations allocated nearly $600 million to executive perks across 1,500 of the largest public firms, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of annual filings. The spending covered approximately 15,000 benefits for top management.
Personal security accounted for the largest portion of these costs at 29.4%, followed by relocation and expat support (22.1%) and personal aircraft usage (19.5%). Other significant categories included financial planning, ground transportation, and health and wellness benefits.
The cost of executive security, in particular, more than doubled since 2021 for the largest public companies. Meta reported $22.5 million for CEO Mark Zuckerberg's security, while Blackstone and Alphabet also incurred substantial security expenses for their leaders.
Perks extended to international assignments, such as housing and tuition for executives like Etsy's CEO, and extensive use of private jets. Some executives also received benefits like sports tickets and alcohol as part of their compensation packages.