Activision Blizzard CEO Could Depart With Over $500M After Microsoft Deal

Activision Blizzard, Inc ATVI CEO Bobby Kotick could depart with up to $520 million after Microsoft Corp's MSFT takeover, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Call of Duty franchise game maker CEO was roiled in controversy, as state and federal regulators have accused Activision of mishandling employee sexual-harassment cases and gender-pay disparity.
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Kotick was entitled to $14.4 million in severance benefits. Kotick owned 4.3 million shares and has the right to acquire another 2.2 million, potentially worth just over $500 million combined at the $95-a-share deal price.
Kotick bagged $0.83 million in compensation in 2021.
Kotick purchased $50 million worth of Activision stock in 2013. Kotick benefited from a 500% increase in value due to the company's "extraordinary performance" under his leadership over the past eight years, WSJ notes.
In October, he urged the board to reduce his salary to the minimum allowed under California law and agreed to forgo bonuses and equity grants.
Kotick will likely step down from Activision when the Microsoft deal closes.
Price Action: ATVI shares traded higher by 2.50% at $77.49 in the premarket on the last check Monday.
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