Axon CEO Rick Smith Tops U.S. Pay Rankings in 2024 — MyLogIQ Data Shows

In 2024, Axon Enterprise CEO Rick Smith emerged as the highest-paid CEO in the United States, earning nearly $165 million — more than leaders at Apple, Blackstone, Starbucks, and other prominent firms. Smith’s compensation was overwhelmingly driven by performance-based stock awards, rather than a traditional salary.

According to data compiled by MyLogIQ, Smith’s total pay exceeded that of all other S&P 500 CEOs, underscoring how equity-focused incentive plans can create dramatic outcomes when corporate performance and share price align, MyLogIQ shows that while median CEO pay in the S&P 500 remains far lower (in the tens of millions), standout outliers like Smith illustrate broader trends in executive compensation — particularly the rising reliance on long-term equity tied to growth

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