'Starbucks Must End Its Greed'—Bernie Sanders Calls Out Starbucks CEO For Getting $96 Million For 4 Months Of Work

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is calling out Starbucks SBUX after the company paid new CEO Brian Niccol about $96 million for just four months of work last year. In an online post, Sanders criticized the pay package while union workers struggle to secure fair wages.

Sanders Slams Starbucks Over Executive Pay

"If you’re the Starbucks CEO you get $96 million for 4 months of work including a $5 million bonus. If you’re a Starbucks union worker, the CEO is refusing to give you a decent raise to pay rent & buy groceries. Starbucks must end its greed & negotiate a fair union contract," Sanders wrote.

If you're the Starbucks CEO you get $96 million for 4 months of work including a $5 million bonus.

If you're a Starbucks union worker, the CEO is refusing to give you a decent raise to pay rent & buy groceries.

Starbucks must end its greed & negotiate a fair union contract.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 11, 2025

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Niccol, who joined Starbucks in September after being recruited from Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CMG, received one of the biggest compensation packages in corporate America. About 94% of his pay came from stock awards, most of which are tied to performance, with the rest vesting over three years. He also received a $5 million sign-on bonus just one month after joining the company.

Starbucks ousted its previous CEO last year after declining sales, hoping Niccol could turn the business around. The company did not require him to relocate to Seattle, where it is based, and agreed to cover his temporary housing and travel expenses. Starbucks paid over $143,000 for Niccol's housing, with about half going toward tax-related costs. He also racked up $72,000 in flights between his home in Southern California and Seattle, along with $19,000 for other personal use of company aircraft, per filing.

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According to Bloomberg, Niccol's annual pay package was valued at around $113 million at the time of his hiring, largely due to stock awards meant to replace what he lost when leaving Chipotle. This places him among the top 20 highest-paid CEOs in the U.S.

Despite paying its CEO an enormous sum, Starbucks has been battling its unionized workers over better wages and benefits. Workers across the country have pushed for improved pay, arguing that the company's profits should be shared more fairly with employees. Sanders, a longtime labor rights advocate, is pressuring Starbucks to negotiate a fair contract and address worker demands.

In its filing, Starbucks defended Niccol's pay, calling him a "highly sought-after, effective leader with a proven track record" who has the experience to drive the company's growth. However, as tensions between corporate leadership and union workers continue to escalate, the debate over executive pay and labor rights at Starbucks is far from over.

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