Exxon CEO’s pay rose 52% in 2022, highest among oil peers

US oil bosses generally collected huge paychecks last year on the back of high energy prices and record profits, with Exxon Mobil’s chief executive winning a 52 per cent increase.

The largest US oil company on Thursday (Apr 13) disclosed chief executive Darren Woods was paid US$35.9 million last year.

Oil company workers did not see the same level of increases with median annual compensation for workers declining at several big energy companies. The median pay for an Exxon worker fell 9 per cent last year to US$171,582 while Chevron’s median worker pay dropped 12 per cent, to US$161,488, filings showed.

The two largest US oil majors posted record profits in 2022 on high energy prices and costs cuts measures including payroll reductions. Exxon posted the most among Western oil majors, US$56 billion. Chevron’s profit more than doubled in 2022 to a record US$36.5 billion.

Exxon’s chief received the highest percentage increase among peers with Chevron CEO Michael Wirth receiving a 4 per cent increase. Occidental Petroleum’s CEO Vicki Hollub’s pay rose 35 per cent while ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance’s pay fell 16 per cent, all compared to their prior year.

The median annual pay for Occidental workers rose 19 per cent last year to US$187,168 while at Conoco it fell 1 per cent to US$177,533 according to their proxy filings.

SEE ALSO

Exxon makes rare purchase of North Sea oil on key Platts window

Exxon quits drilling in Brazil after failing to find oil: WSJ

ExxonMobil signals 1Q operating profit fell 25% on softer energy prices

DECODING ASIA

Navigate Asia in
a new global order

Get the insights delivered to your inbox.

Under a new calculation disclosure required by the SEC on potential gains by executives on unvested stock awards, Woods’ pay was US$89.7 million in 2022, a securities filing showed.

The figure provides more transparency on compensation given by companies in equity, according to shareholders advocacy group As We Sow. But it is not the best reflection of a compensation as the total value cashed out by executives could only be known when options are exercised or stock are sold, the group says.

Under the same metric, Woods lost more than US$7 million in 2020. REUTERS