Gates and Ballmer get pay raises
InfoWorld | at | by Mike
Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer each received total compensation of $901,667 in Microsoft's 2004 fiscal year, up 4.4 percent from $863,447 one year ago. Gates, Microsoft's chairman and chief software architect, and Ballmer, the software maker's chief executive officer, each received a base salary of $591,667 and a $310,000 bonus for the 12-month period ended June 30, according to documents filed Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In line with Microsoft policy, Gates and Ballmer did not receive any stock options or stocks. Both executives hold significant stakes in the company; Gates held 10.09 percent of Microsoft shares as of Sept. 10 and Ballmer held 3.78 percent, according to the filing. Gates has topped Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people for several years.