Microsoft CEO earned $90.6m salary last year... $6m less than the year before after the computing giant's stock tanked

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's salary fell to $90.6 million this past fiscal year after the computing giant's stock tanked, a new report stated. Nadella, who has been the boss of the $3.95 trillion technology corporation since 2014, made $6 million less than he did the year before, according to an October 21 regulatory filing obtained by The Seattle Times. The dip came after Microsoft's stock tanked on Wall Street during its 2026 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, the outlet reported. Although Nadella, 59, is making less than he did the year prior, he is still raking in more than the $79.1 million he made in 2024. His annual base salary is $2.5 million, and it has remained at that number since he took the job. Nadella's paycheck also includes stock awards, which totaled $77.5 million last year. The billionaire also received a cash bonus of $10.3 million. That amount is influenced by various factors, including company culture, cybersecurity metrics and product performance. His annual take-home also included $259,204 in other compensation, such as charitable gifts, pension contributions, and security. The total compensation of Microsoft's median employee - excluding Nadella - rose from a little over $200,000 last year to more than $215,000 this year. That information has to be released under regulatory rules. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's salary fell to $90.6 million last year after the computing giant's stock tanked, a new report stated Nadella, who has been the boss of the $3.95 trillion technology corporation since 2014, made $6 million less than he did the year before last, a regulatory filing released on October 21 revealed News of Nadella's salary comes after Microsoft offered buyouts to nearly 60,000 employees. The tech giant told more than a quarter of its global workforce about the voluntary option on Monday as the company looks to control costs and help fund its AI investments.Staffers working in finance, human resources, Copilot, AI experiences, Xbox and Windows + Devices are eligible for the buyout offer, a source close to the matter told Reuters.Those in marketing, security and commercial business are excluded from it, according to the source.'This offer gives eligible employees who may be considering a future outside ⁠the company a new choice to make that transition now with support,' Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said in a memo to staff, the outlet reported.'It also ​gives participating organizations another way to adapt their workforce to changing needs.'Employees at the vice president level and below who work in the US, Canada, India and the UK would be granted a 'voluntary exit offer' of the standard severance package, depending on their location, The Seattle Times previously reported.Those who have received the offer have until December to make a final decision. As of June 30, Microsoft has 223,000 full-time employees globally, according to its annual filing. (Pictured: President Donald Trump hands Nadella the National Medal of Technology and Innovation on October 8 in Washington DC)The global company, based just 15 minutes outside of Seattle, is anticipating an acceptance rate of about three percent to five percent, a spokesperson told the outlet, which equates to fewer than 3,000 employees.Microsoft's stock price briefly rose after news of the buyout came out, ending at about a 1.5 percent surge that same day.As of June 30, Microsoft has 223,000 full-time employees globally, according to its annual filing. Earlier this year, the tech giant offered voluntary buyouts to around seven percent of its US workforce, which is about 9,000 staffers.And in July, Microsoft said it would cut 4,800 jobs across the world.Microsoft is one of the largest private-sector employers in the Greater Seattle area, employing tens of thousands across its main campus in Redmond, as well as offices in Seattle, Bellevue and Issaquah. The changes come as Microsoft increasingly embeds AI into its products, from its Copilot assistant to tools designed to help programmers, sales teams and other employees work more efficientlyThe changes come as Microsoft increasingly embeds AI into its products, from its Copilot assistant to tools designed to help programmers, sales teams and other employees work more efficiently.In 2024, it unveiled a new generation of AI-powered personal computers built around integrating Copilot into Windows, while last year it introduced Mico, a cartoon-like animated face designed to represent the virtual assistant.The company is also supplying cloud computing capacity to major AI players, including OpenAI and Anthropic, further cementing its position in a market where demand for computing power is soaring.