Technology giant Google has increased CEO Sundar Pichai’s total potential compensation to $692 million ( ₹6,361 crore) over the next three years, making him one of the highest-paid chief executives in the world.
A major portion of Pichai’s package comes in performance stock units (PSUs) with a target value of $126 million, divided evenly into two tranches, according to a SEC filing. These stock awards are performance-linked, meaning their final value depends on how well Alphabet performs for shareholders.
A while back, Elon Musk’s compensation package also drew global attention. In November 2025, shareholders of Tesla approved a new performance-based pay plan for the CEO that could be worth up to $1 trillion over the next 10 years.
How will the PSUs be valued?
The PSUs are measured by comparing parent company Alphabet’s total shareholder return with other companies in the S&P 100.
If Alphabet significantly outperforms its peers, the PSUs could pay up to twice the target amount, or $252 million. But if the company lags behind, the payout could even fall to zero.
The Indian-origin chief executive will also receive $84 million in restricted stock over the next three years, vesting roughly on a monthly basis as long as he remains at the company. In addition, he will continue to draw an annual salary of $2 million.
Stock incentives linked to Waymo and Wing’s growth
As part of the pay package, Google has added two new stock incentives worth as much as $350 million, which is linked to the growth of its self-driving taxi arm Waymo and drone delivery start-up Wing.
Pichai will receive shares in Waymo with a target value of $130 million, and $45 million in Wing Aviation stock based on their “fair value” in the next three years. Again, both can pay out up to 200% of the target value if the performance goals tied to the businesses are met or exceeded.
In that case, the CEO can receive as much as $692 million, with a baseline amount of $391mn in stock and salary.
Pichai took over the as the chief executive of Google in August 2015. Since then, the company’s market capitalisation has increased nearly sevenfold from $535 billion to $3.6 trillion, briefly crossing $4 trillion in January, according to FT.
This sharp increase in the company’s valuation has also boosted Pichai’s personal wealth, making the 53-year-old former McKinsey consultant a billionaire. His current net worth stands at $1.5 billion, according to data available on Forbes.
Meanwhile Pichai and his wife Anjali collectively own 1.67 million Google shares, valued at $498 million based on the company’s Friday closing stock price of $298, according to regulatory filings.
(with wire inputs)
