Executive security has been front and center in recent days in the wake of a man fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Some of the U.S. companies with the largest market capitalizations allocate sizable sums for personal security and other measures to help keep their CEOs safe.
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Apple
The iPhone maker said in its proxy statement that it “provide[s] risk-based, business-related, and personal security services for our employees, including our named executive officers, as determined to be appropriate by our security team.”
For longtime CEO Tim Cook, personal security services amounted to about $820,300 for Apple last year.
The company makes him fly on private aircraft, which cost more than $1.6 million in 2023, “in the interests of security and efficiency based on our global profile and the highly visible nature” of Cook’s job, according to the filing.
Nvidia
CEO Jensen Huang gets over $2.4 million worth of security protection measures from Nvidia.
The “residential security and consultation fees” alone that Nvidia provided him in fiscal 2024 cost the chipmaker $2.2 million.
Nvidia “believe[s] these arrangements and costs are reasonable, appropriate, necessary and in the best interests of Nvidia and its stockholders, as they enable Mr. Huang to focus on his duties to the Company while reducing security threats, and therefore, mitigate risks to our business.”
The company’s market capitalization hovered around $3.42 trillion as of Monday.
Microsoft
According to an SEC filing, Microsoft sees the protection CEO Satya Nadella received as an “integral part of our risk management program” and a “necessary and appropriate business expense.”
The company paid nearly $58,300 for Nadella’s personal security in fiscal 2024.
“We believe that the personal safety and security of our senior executives is of the utmost importance to Microsoft and its shareholders,” the company said in the filing.
Amazon
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has run Amazon since 2021. Last year, his security was roughly $986,200, according to the e-commerce giant’s proxy statement.
The company also saw costs from providing protection for three other individuals – Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos, Worldwide Amazon Stores CEO Doug Herrington and Amazon Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky.
“We believe that all Company-incurring security costs are reasonable and necessary and for the Company’s benefit,” Amazon said.
The company was founded in 1994 by Bezos.
Alphabet
Alphabet, the corporate parent of Google, disclosed in its proxy statement that it covered personal security for CEO Sundar Pichai last year at a cost of nearly $6.8 million.
Pichai has led Google for nearly a decade. He also sits on the board of directors.
Meta Platforms
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the corporate parent of Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Threads, gets an “overall security program” as part of his job. Some other high-level leaders at the company receive protective measures too, according to its proxy statement.
Meta said it “requires” Zuckerberg’s security “because of the importance of Mr. Zuckerberg to Meta” and believes the “scope and costs of this security program are appropriate and necessary.”
Meta said it provides funds for Zuckerberg’s security “at his residences and during personal travel, including the annual costs of security personnel for his protection and the installation, and maintenance of certain security measures for his residences.” It spends on security for his family and private aircraft as well.
For 2023, the company reported nearly $24.4 million in costs for Zuckerberg’s security. The annual amount can change “depending on requisite security measures, his travel schedule, and other factors,” according to the company.
Zuckerberg gets paid a $1 salary. His net worth stood at $211.5 billion.
Tesla
Tesla paid $2.4 million for CEO Elon Musk’s security services last year, the electric vehicle maker disclosed in its proxy statement.
It noted that it entered a deal with a security company “owned by Elon Musk and organized to provide security services concerning him” in late 2023.
In addition to Tesla, Musk also leads SpaceX and xAI. He will run the Department of Government Efficiency under the incoming Trump administration along with Vivek Ramaswamy.
Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Buffett receives personal and home security as part of his decades-long tenure as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
“Berkshire’s Board of Directors believe that in light of Mr. Buffett’s critical role as Berkshire’s CEO and given that Mr. Buffett spends a significant amount of time while at home on Berkshire business matters that such costs represent bona fide business expenses,” the company said in its proxy statement.
The company spent nearly $313,600 on security for the “Oracle of Omaha” last year.
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