Mumbai: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s whole compensation for the monetary yr 2024–2025 has risen to $96.5 million — his highest since taking cost of the corporate greater than a decade in the past. 

The sharp enhance displays Microsoft’s main progress in synthetic intelligence (AI) below his management.

In a observe to shareholders, the corporate’s board mentioned Nadella and his management group have efficiently positioned Microsoft as a world chief in AI throughout a “generational know-how shift.”

The corporate’s regulatory submitting exhibits that round 90 per cent of Nadella’s pay comes within the type of Microsoft shares, along with a $2.5 million base wage.

Within the earlier monetary yr, Nadella earned $79.1 million. He turned Microsoft’s third CEO in 2014, succeeding Steve Ballmer and co-founder Invoice Gates.

The submitting additionally revealed increased pay packages for Nadella’s prime executives. Chief Monetary Officer Amy Hood earned $29.5 million, whereas Judson Althoff, who now heads Microsoft’s industrial enterprise, acquired $28.2 million.

Microsoft shares have gained about 23 per cent this yr, pushed by regular development in its Azure cloud computing enterprise, which continues to outperform rivals like Amazon Net Providers.

Since turning into CEO, Nadella has reworked Microsoft right into a cloud-first and AI-driven firm.

His early wager on cloud computing helped Azure turn into one of many prime gamers within the international market.

He additionally expanded Microsoft’s portfolio via key acquisitions, together with LinkedIn, GitHub, and gaming big Activision Blizzard, strengthening the corporate’s presence in software program, skilled networking, and leisure.

One in all Nadella’s most vital strikes was backing OpenAI when it was nonetheless a little-known startup.

Microsoft’s preliminary $1 billion funding in OpenAI grew right into a a lot deeper partnership, with an extra $10 billion funding as ChatGPT turned a family title.

Immediately, AI options powered by OpenAI are built-in throughout nearly all Microsoft merchandise, from Workplace instruments to cloud companies.

Born and raised in Hyderabad, Nadella accomplished his engineering diploma from Mangalore College in 1988 and later pursued a grasp’s in pc science from the College of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

He joined Microsoft in 1992 and rapidly rose via the ranks, main a number of divisions earlier than taking on as CEO in 2014.