Jeff Bezos earns more than Andy Jassy in 2024 compensation

In 2024, Amazon's executive chairman, Jeff Bezos, received $1.68 million in total compensation, primarily due to security costs associated with his high-profile status. Although he stepped down as CEO in July 2021, he still earns significantly more than the current CEO, Andy Jassy, whose total compensation amounted to $1,596,889. This reflects a ratio of 1-to-43 when compared to the median compensation of Amazon's global workforce, which was $37,181. The disparity illustrates the compensation structure within the organization and highlights the differences in pay between top executives and regular employees. The document reported that for U.S. full-time employees, compensation increased to $47,990 in 2024 from $45,613 in 2023. Amazon is facing criticism for rejecting shareholder proposals concerning transparency, particularly around emissions reporting and the climate impact of its data centers. These issues have become increasingly important as stakeholders and the public focus on corporate responsibility in addressing climate change, fueling demands for transparency and accountability. With high-profile compensation packages, the pay for executives like Matt Garman, the AWS CEO, who earned $32.8 million in stock awards, and Douglas Herrington, CEO worldwide of Amazon stores, with an award of $34.2 million, further emphasizes the growing gap in earnings within the company. The reports about Amazon's compensation practices are likely to draw more scrutiny in the lead-up to their Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where proposals related to climate commitments will be discussed. Executives at Amazon continue to justify their compensation packages by pointing to the complexity and scale of the business. As the company navigates ongoing challenges related to workforce satisfaction, climate commitments, and executive compensation, discussions on fair pay continue to be vital within the corporate environment. This situation could potentially influence not only shareholder opinions but also public perception of Amazon's commitment to social responsibility and its overall corporate image.