Goldman CEO Solomon’s pay surges 24 percent to $31M

Goldman CEO Solomon’s pay surges 24 percent to $31M
The board lifted the CEO's pay after the firm's profit tumbled last year.
FEB 16, 2024
By  Bloomberg

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted David Solomon’s compensation 24 percent to $31 million for a year in which earnings slumped at the Wall Street giant.

The board lifted the CEO’s pay after profit tumbled 24 percent and the firm spent much of the year dousing internal rifts and pitching investors on a simplified strategy. After giving up on its retail-banking ambitions, New York-based Goldman has returned its focus to business lines embraced by Solomon’s predecessors.

The package for the 62-year-old banker includes a $2 million base salary and $29 million in variable compensation, with $20.3 million of that in the form of restricted stock units, according to a regulatory filing. His pay jump was greater than every other major US bank CEO whose compensation has been disclosed. 

Unlike last year, the pay announcement was made after the conclusion of an annual gathering of the firm’s top-ranked executives in Florida.

Goldman’s shares advanced 12 percent in 2023, ranking it fourth among the six biggest US banks. The firm began the year by embarking on one of its biggest rounds of job cuts ever, eliminating about 3,200 jobs.

The bank was hurt last year by clogged-up capital markets that kept a lid on fees and magnified losses on real estate investments, as well as its failing consumer strategy. That resulted in Goldman posting just $8.52 billion in net income for the year, sharply off the pace of recent years.

While the bank still touts three divisions in its results, it has avoided spotlighting what it calls the “platform solutions” business and has been directing investors to focus on its investment bank and the money-management business. Those two groups accounted for about 95% of Goldman’s revenue last year.

Last month, JPMorgan Chase & Co. said it awarded longtime CEO Jamie Dimon $36 million for last year, up 4.3 percent from a year earlier. Morgan Stanley increased James Gorman’s pay 17 percent to $37 million for his final year as CEO.

Here's why financial advisors should hire military spouses for their practices

Latest News

Treasury says 'revenge tax' will go from 'big beautiful' bill
Treasury says 'revenge tax' will go from 'big beautiful' bill

Agreement reached with G-7 allies will benefit US companies.

Stablecoin bill could be ready for Trump signature in weeks
Stablecoin bill could be ready for Trump signature in weeks

House Republicans aim to get the legislation through imminently.

Mercer grows ownership to majority of staff with 674 employee shareholders
Mercer grows ownership to majority of staff with 674 employee shareholders

CEO Dave Welling tells IN that the $72 billion mega-RIA has 'become the catalyst for employee ownership through M&A partnership.'

'Independence Stories': Don't let fear of the unknown hold you back
'Independence Stories': Don't let fear of the unknown hold you back

Financial advisor Stephen Davis shares the lessons he learned after leaving a national broker/dealer to set up his own shop in the first of a new InvestmentNews series in advance of Independence Day.

Envestnet sells off Yodlee to PE firm STG
Envestnet sells off Yodlee to PE firm STG

The "strategic divestiture" comes after years of legal challenges and speculation swirling around the analytics and data aggregation platform.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.