Meta Raises Executive Pay with First Stock Options Since IPO

Meta Platforms has increased compensation for its top executives and, for the first time since its 2012 listing, introduced stock options as part of the package.

The new plan targets senior leaders, including Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, as the company expands its drive into artificial intelligence and tries to keep key talent.

Regulatory filings show that several top executives will now be eligible for stock options. They include the finance chief, technology chief, product chief, operating chief, president and legal chief. Most of them will also receive higher restricted stock awards, which vest over time.

The stock options come with conditions, as the lowest tranche only pays out if Meta’s share price reaches $1,116.08. That is about 88% above its latest close of $592.92. The highest tier requires the stock to climb to $3,727.12, more than six times its current level.

If the targets are not met by February 2028, the unvested options will be released gradually until August 2030. They expire in March 2031 if unused.

A company spokesperson said the package is a “big bet” and that it “will not be realised unless Meta achieves massive future success, benefiting all of our shareholders.”

This stresses how intense the competition for AI talent has become. Companies such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are offering large pay deals to attract researchers. Meta has also been active, hiring aggressively and acquiring smaller firms to strengthen its AI teams.

In March, the company brought in Dreamer AI, a startup working on advanced AI systems, as part of its expansion into what it calls “superintelligence” research.

Spending has surged alongside hiring, with Meta reporting $72 billion in capital expenditure in 2025 and expects that figure to rise to as much as $135 billion in 2026. Much of that is tied to AI infrastructure, including data centres and computing power.

Analysts expect Meta’s stock to trade between $838 and $935 in 2026, with some forecasts going higher. Even so, the new option targets sit well above those estimates.

Executives only benefit if the company delivers exceptional growth. So, Meta is tying pay to performance, believing AI will drive that outcome.

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