Stock Markets May 12, 2026 06:16 PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Sees 27% Drop in Total Pay as Stock Awards Lose Value

Equity awards fall 36% in fiscal 2026 as slower share gains weigh on award valuations

By Marcus Reed NVDA

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Jensen Huang's total compensation declined 27% to $36.3 million for fiscal 2026 after the reported value of his stock awards decreased. Equity awards, the largest component of his pay, fell 36% to $24.8 million in the year that ended Jan. 25, while base salary and incentive pay remained largely unchanged.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Sees 27% Drop in Total Pay as Stock Awards Lose Value
NVDA

Key Points

  • Jensen Huang's total compensation fell 27% to $36.3 million for fiscal 2026.
  • Equity awards, the largest pay component, declined 36% to $24.8 million for the year ended Jan. 25.
  • Base salary and nonequity incentive pay stayed flat at $1.5 million and $6 million respectively; single-year PSUs were $19.2 million and multi-year PSUs were $18 million.

Nvidia Corp. reported a reduction in Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang's total pay for fiscal 2026, with a regulatory filing showing overall compensation of $36.3 million - a 27% drop from the prior fiscal year.

The principal driver was a decline in the value of equity awards, which constitute the largest portion of Huang's package. Those awards fell 36% to $24.8 million for the fiscal year that ended Jan. 25, down from $38.8 million in fiscal 2025, when Huang's total compensation reached $49.9 million.

Other elements of Huang's pay were steady. His base salary remained at $1.5 million for fiscal 2026, and compensation under the company's nonequity incentive plan held at $6 million.

The filing's compensation breakdown shows Huang received $19.2 million in single-year performance stock units and $18 million in multi-year performance stock units for fiscal 2026. All other compensation was listed as $4 million.


Context on company stock performance

The filing noted that Nvidia continues to hold its position as the world's most valuable company, but that recent stock appreciation has moderated. After very strong gains in prior years - the company saw its shares triple in 2023 and more than double in 2024 - the stock rose 39% in the most recent 12-month period. Year-to-date for 2026, shares were up 18%, which the filing characterizes as one of the slowest paces among major semiconductor companies.


What the filing shows

  • Total compensation for Jensen Huang in fiscal 2026: $36.3 million (down 27%).
  • Equity awards in fiscal 2026: $24.8 million (down 36% from $38.8 million in fiscal 2025).
  • Base salary: $1.5 million; nonequity incentive plan compensation: $6 million.
  • Performance stock unit breakdown: $19.2 million in single-year PSUs and $18 million in multi-year PSUs; all other compensation: $4 million.

These figures are disclosed in the company's regulatory filing covering the fiscal year that ended Jan. 25.


Takeaway

The reduction in total compensation for Nvidia's CEO in fiscal 2026 largely reflects a lower valuation of equity awards, tied in the filing to more moderate share gains compared with previous years. Other elements of the pay package remained essentially stable.

Risks

  • Future executive compensation tied to equity values could fluctuate with Nvidia's stock performance - impacting technology and semiconductor sector executive pay disclosures.
  • Slower stock appreciation relative to prior years may influence the valuation of future equity awards - a factor for corporate governance and investor relations in the tech sector.

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