Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s compensation rose 53.5% to $8.9 million in 2017, a regulatory filing showed, largely due to higher costs related to the 33-year old billionaire’s personal security.
About 83% of the compensation represented security-related expenses, while most of the rest were tied to Mr. Zuckerberg’s personal usage of private aircraft.
Mr. Zuckerberg spent much of last year travelling after he pledged to visit all the U.S. States that he had not previously been to.
His security expenses climbed to $7.3 million in 2017 from $4.9 million a year earlier.
Menlo Park, California-based Facebook paid to buy, install and maintain security measures for Mr. Zuckerberg’s personal residences, which include properties in San Francisco and Palo Alto, the filing showed.
The Facebook board’s compensation committee authorised Mr.Zuckerberg’s security programme, the filing said, “to address safety concerns due to specific threats to his safety arising directly as a result of his position as our founder, chairman, and CEO.”
Base salary unchanged
Mr. Zuckerberg’s base salary was unchanged at $1, while his total voting power at Facebook rose marginally to 59.9%.
Facebook, which has consistently reported stronger-than-expected earnings over the past two years, has faced public outcry over its role in Russia’s alleged influence over the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
