Qualcomm CEO pockets 15% pay rise as profits fall 45%

https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/23/qualcomm_ceo_pay/

by pjmlp • 6 months ago

32 13 6 months ago

high_na_euv2• 6 months ago

The bump came in a year when Qualcomm reported full-year revenue of $44.3 billion, up 14 percent, but net income plunged 45 percent to $5.5 billion after the company booked a hefty non-cash tax charge tied to changes in US tax law. In other words, sales were up, profits went backwards, and executive pay kept climbing anyway.

imtringued• 6 months ago

15% more pay for 14% more revenue doesn't sound as crazy as the headline. The real question is how do you mess up this badly despite growing? Did they over invest into acquiring unprofitable AI companies?

high_na_euv2• 6 months ago

It doesnt sound crazy at all

15% more pay is a few milions

14% more revenue is a few *bilions*

tssva2• 6 months ago

They didn't mess up badly. They choose to take a one time non-cash tax charge of $5.7 billion which will allow them to take advantage of a recent change in tax law to achieve a lower effective tax rate and lower cash tax payments going forward. Meta did something similar taking a $15.9 billion non-cash tax charge to take advantage of the same changed tax laws. Many other companies have already or are expected to do the same.

m4rtink• 6 months ago

Tariffs or some other recent madness finally hitting the big companies?

yurishimo• 6 months ago

I do find this frustrating as an IC. I'm lucky to get a COL raise every year, much less 10-15% in a down year. Not to mention the absolute ridiculous explosion of C-Suite pay in comparison to workers. Something has to change if these companies want to continue to be successful long term.

buran77• 6 months ago

By contrast, Qualcomm calculated the annual total compensation of its median employee at $101,639, putting Amon's pay at roughly 292 times that figure.

For those who missed that in today's brand of capitalism in some countries, employees are very much peasants and serfs.

ulfw• 6 months ago

America is just it's usual stupid self again. C Level pay and any other position pay has nothing in common anymore. I guess some are humans and some are demi-gods

tssva2• 6 months ago

The article mentions a one time tax charge which resulted in the reduction in profits but doesn't explain the context of the tax charge. Likely because it doesn't fit the narrative the author tried to create. Qualcomm chose to take a one time non-cash tax charge of $5.7 billion to take advantage of changes in the tax code which were part of the Big Beautiful Bill enacted last year. By taxing the charge their effective tax rate and cash tax payments moving forward will be reduced. In other words they traded short term profits for increased long term profits. Meta similarly took a $15.9 billion charge for the same reason. Many other companies have already done the same or are expected to. Especially those which have large R&D investments.

stalfosknight• 6 months ago

Shit like this just makes me feel more and more that all executives need to be removed.

k310• 6 months ago

Wouldn't a CEO be the easiest person to replace with AI?

And think of the immense savings! No need to reward failure. Reprogram.

When I was a techie who shifted over to sales engineer, I read a ton of "MBA" books. There's a vast business knowledge base out there.

And as for innovation, engineers innovate. Who has a new top-level business model? So, you say: "It's not in the business model; it's in the execution"

Long story short: People are distrustful of management, especially when it trickles down, with agendas at each level, but they DO eagerly engage with chatbots.

I eagerly await the "Chatbot CEO"

A also learned MBA-speak, and here's a triple dose, all in one short sentence:

"At the end of the day, bottom line, it is what it is."

Qualcomm CEO pockets 15% pay rise as profits fall 45%

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