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Activision's Bobby Kotick and EA's Andrew Wilson among most overpaid CEOs in US
- Thread starter Shin
- Start date
AlteredForms
Banned
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
Its sad when you read stories about Atari coming together and then you see these corporate raiders take home way than the people who actually design the games.
kingwingin
Member
At what point are they overpaid?
bilderberg
Member
Bobby Kotick did save Activision, at least.
GTR R35_Supra RZ
Banned
GTFO !!!!! 28 mill a year ??!!! What the f special you have to do to cop that much a year, mindblown.
CaptainSmirnov
Member
It’s a shame that money doesn’t create quality output. Those numbers..
Night.Ninja
Banned
Hating on people getting paid yeah
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
I genuinely feel for those laid off (recently mind you) and shuttered developers.
DunDunDunpachi
Patient MembeR
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JareBear: Remastered
Banned
I guess welcome to the world of big business?
They’d probably tell you they’re underpaid, if you asked them.
It’s pretty wild, for sure
They’d probably tell you they’re underpaid, if you asked them.
It’s pretty wild, for sure
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JoeyWestSide
Member
And Bob Igor is worth 350 million. The ratio between him and average worker must be even larger than this. Comparing those 2 numbers arent relevant, but merely just a comparison.
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HaveButOneLife
Banned
Well, yeah, they own the company.
WaterAstro
Member
Maybe with the current social climate, bringing up Bobby Kotick's sexual harassment will get him fired.
Not many people know that Bobby Kotick actually lost a lawsuit for sexual harassment.
Not many people know that Bobby Kotick actually lost a lawsuit for sexual harassment.
TLZ
Banned
Ok. But shutting down many devs so you can continue to make $35 million a year? What greed is this? Why not be thankful they're the ones making you that money and keep them on? They're people with families too who can probably live off 0.1% of that amount, yet he wants to eat it all up by himself.
Isn't $1 million enough?
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Red Crayon Aristocrat
Member
Bobby Kotick is a Blobby Kotdick.
Papa
Banned
How much profit did he generate?
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Lately, these company's stock prices have been but in half the past 6 months, but for a good 10 year run, the stocks basically 10x themselves for a time.
Activision increased from $8 billion market cap to $64 billion at the peak, now at $32 billion.
EA increased from $5 billion market cap to $50 billion, now at $28 billion.
Pretty sure the company can spare extra money. These two CEOs are paid about double the ratio to other Fortune 500 CEOs. So if you cut their packages in half to get them in line, instead of getting $30 million, they should get $15 million. Fair enough. But for that extra $15 million of salary, the companies increased in value for shareholders by $20+ billion each.
Activision increased from $8 billion market cap to $64 billion at the peak, now at $32 billion.
EA increased from $5 billion market cap to $50 billion, now at $28 billion.
Pretty sure the company can spare extra money. These two CEOs are paid about double the ratio to other Fortune 500 CEOs. So if you cut their packages in half to get them in line, instead of getting $30 million, they should get $15 million. Fair enough. But for that extra $15 million of salary, the companies increased in value for shareholders by $20+ billion each.
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Mercer_CAR
Banned
Oh gawd another "white man" atop the oppressive capitalist system lol
MrTroubleMaker
Member
Disgusting !
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Easiest way to get a CEO fired.
Don't buy their products. Sales and profits sink, the stock price gets slammed and he'll get the boot.
But keep buying their stuff, everyone props up the stock prices inching it up and he'll get a huge payout as CEO goals always have shareholder goals (must hit shareholder value by achieving share price xxxx with dividend payouts (if the stock offers it)).
But keep buying Call of Duty, EA Sports, Destiny, Diablo 3 and a gazillion microtrans $$$.... and congrats you are helping Bobby Kotick get his payout.
Don't buy their products. Sales and profits sink, the stock price gets slammed and he'll get the boot.
But keep buying their stuff, everyone props up the stock prices inching it up and he'll get a huge payout as CEO goals always have shareholder goals (must hit shareholder value by achieving share price xxxx with dividend payouts (if the stock offers it)).
But keep buying Call of Duty, EA Sports, Destiny, Diablo 3 and a gazillion microtrans $$$.... and congrats you are helping Bobby Kotick get his payout.
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zeorhymer
Member
Stuff off my chest. First, the report from *As You Sow* is a far left leaning bias and I would double check their figures.
Just to put it in perspective:
So their pay is close to average.
Just the opposite.
PC Gamer said:
Just to put it in perspective:
EPI.org said:
So their pay is close to average.
GhostOfTsu
Banned
That's it? Some hollywood actor can get 30 million for 2 months work.
They create thousands of jobs in the gaming industry so good for them.
They create thousands of jobs in the gaming industry so good for them.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
angelic
Banned
But the EA machine is already in place, generating profit. What does Wilson do specifically, that other people couldn't, to generate at least an amount greater than what he is paid?
In fact, I would argue he has generated a lack of profit, or a deficit. What decisions has he taken. Battlefront 2 was a PR nightmare. BF5 was a clusterfuck of failed expectations. Anthem is dying instantly, most famous for loading screens and bad reviews. I don't see where Wilson is earning any money here from any genius decisions. Apex came out despite EA, not because of them, and they still tried to botch it by launching next to Anthem.
I think he's a toxic CEO, he's fucked EA for at least 3 years, their critical reputation is damning, FIFA UT is keeping them afloat. How is that worth the millions they're paying him? Answer: it isnt.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Sadly yes, in the MTX arena with mobile and MUT/FUT, etc.. Not a success for gamers, but a success for shareholders.
JoeyWestSide
Member
EA and Activision have the greatest revenue model in the entire world that many would kill for. Small iterations of the same game guaranteed to be the best selling every year. Yes they can.
Closer
Member
Guiberu
Member
This video made me unsubscribe from Jim Sterling.
It's the biggest "reeee" he's ever committed. And I'm done with him.
Silent Viper
Banned
So what? If im successful and ceo. I also demand high pay. Why would a CEO will get equal or close ro equal salary as normal employee?
You all are jealous that u didn't become as successful as Kotick
You all are jealous that u didn't become as successful as Kotick
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Guiberu
Member
This.
800 dime-a-dozen blog writers / marketers get laid off, like they knew they would if the market didn't suggest their requirement, and suddenly everyone has an economics degree, and entirely blames Kotick's paycheck.
No.
That is not how the real world works.
If you want to get paid like Kotick. Be like Kotick.
If you don't want Kotick to get paid how much he does, because "it's not fair!", grow the fuck up.
Arkage
Banned
This thread is disappointingly filled with people dismissing massive income inequality. People can't just "be" like Bobby Kotick because there are very few CEO jobs that pay that amount of money. That's not an actual career path, no more so than pinning your hopes on getting into the NBA. People are upset over others making absurd amounts of money. Meanwhile our nation piles on debt year after year because god forbid we ever raise taxes on the superwealthy, forcing them to buy one less private jet plane that year than they originally planned. Christ. Talk about the idolization and worship of a job title and an economic/taxation system. "Status quo is best" gtfo.
Bobby Kotick is a woke CEO? Lol.
Bobby Kotick is a woke CEO? Lol.
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Guiberu
Member
You're right.
We shouldn't remunerate people that dedicate their lives to a position/career path, and provide demonstrable benefits to their employer / the general populous.
We should instead pay everyone equally, from a big pot that gets shared around. Even those who don't want to work. Just to be really nice.
Bill Gates is worth $97.7 billion dollars. Is that alright? Should we take it away from him? Or is it actually okay, because he's chosen to give back?
Not enough CEO jobs? Make one.
National Debt? Not Bobby Kotick's problem. That's your government's job.
Kotick's problem, is Kotick.
He earned that money. And by that, I mean he was seen by a group of peers and shareholders to be worth paying that amount of money, as to ensure he didn't jump ship to a company that would pay him that amount of money.
I don't idolize the system. Or Kotick.
I idolize ambition, talent, and impetus.
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
This is sad but true.
mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Why does it feel like their games barely ever reach projections?
JoeyWestSide
Member
That's personal projections, what they want to hit, not if they are profitable. Missed projections lower stock even if they are a stable profitable company. And hey, even Nintendo missed projections and had to re-assess
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mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Okay good point. Maybe that's why we gamers can be confused by EA and Activision sometimes. We might be too focused on the "projections" and not the profit of a game.
JoeyWestSide
Member
Sure, and we can get confused by businesses in general. A lot of big words thrown together with a bunch of numbers when there is a lot of stipulations. Lots of narrative control. But when we take the time to learn about definitions and how things work, it gets easier to both understand and ignore some news articles. This year specifically was definitely a rough year for projections especially when BR games start siphoning attention. When Netflix goes on record saying they're battling Fortnite for attention, then even the biggest publishers like T2 can get railroaded. But, just like any other thing in pop culture, attention has a short life span and people like things they can depend on, the big publishers. So, I'd guess with readjusted projections, and possibly a beginning fatigue to BR games, I think we're gonna start seeing publishers hitting projections.
Arkage
Banned
He can earn as much money as he likes. Doesn't mean it shouldn't be taxed at much higher rates. And if you disagree with that notion, then yes, you idolize the status quo capitalism market of America. Also, lol at your strawman of "let's force everyone to get paid the same!!" Jesus what is this something you read in a 1950s red scare anti-communism flier.
And if you think MTX are providing a "demonstrable benefit to general populations" you don't know anything about the psychology of gambling.
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StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
People typically don't like bosses. They don't like being told what to do and that bosses make more money than average scrubs.
These guys are overpaid bums right?
Boss quits or retires, and I bet every dime I have that team of 10 or 30 people now missing a boss will be fucking around, or clueless, or waiting for a different boss to fill in and tell them what to do. And most will come in late or leave home early hoping other bosses don't notice.
Guiberu
Member
Again though ; tax is not Kotick's problem. In a multitude of ways.
This is your government's responsibility. The onus is entirely on them.
It's not a "strawman" It's a sentiment echoed by many. It was also satirical.
Kotick did not invent Microtransactions. He may have capitalized on them. But that's why he's a CEO.
My overall point here is that Kotick, love him or hate him, has done nothing directly, to warrant this current resurrection of hatred.
What's yours?
FloatingIslands
Member
An excess of only 12 millions??? I want so bad to be a CEO