Median CEO Pay Hits $18M as Starbucks Ties Exec Rewards to Stock, Pink Bear Cup Debuts
SBUX•More than a dozen S&P 500 CEOs earned over $100 million in 2025 and median pay rose to $18 million, with Starbucks executives now tied heavily to stock-based compensation. Starbucks will release a pink bear-shaped collectible cup this summer to capitalize on viral merchandise demand.
1. Executive Compensation Trends
U.S. S&P 500 CEO pay reached record levels in 2025, with over a dozen executives surpassing $100 million in total compensation and the median pay climbing to $18 million. Starbucks has adopted equity-heavy packages for its leadership, aligning executive payouts directly with share performance to incentivize stock appreciation.
2. Pink Bear-Shaped Cup Launch
Starbucks plans to drop a limited-edition pink version of its viral bear-shaped collectible cup this summer. The launch leverages social media buzz around the original design and aims to drive store visits, merchandise sales and customer engagement during the seasonal campaign.
