Dan Schulman has been leading PayPal as its CEO since 2015, shaping it from just a simple payment button into a big open payments platform. His time at PayPal has been marked by a focus on partnerships and expanding the...

Dan Schulman has been leading PayPal as its CEO since 2015, shaping it from just a simple payment button into a big open payments platform. His time at PayPal has been marked by a focus on partnerships and expanding the company’s reach in the financial world. Schulman is not just a businessman; he’s a guy who believes in doing the right thing. He’s known for turning down bonuses when performance targets weren’t met, a move that highlights his commitment to accountability. In 2023, his total pay was $22.1 million, which included a base salary and large stock awards that really depended on the company’s long-term health. However, he faced some tough times too, not achieving the ambitious growth goals set for the company. Before PayPal, he was President and CEO of American Express, where he gained a lot of experience in finance. Schulman, who has a background in Economics from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Stanford, plans to retire at the end of 2023 but will stay on the Board, guiding PayPal through the transition to new leadership.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other PayPal Holdings, Inc. CEOs

P

Dan Schulman

Ex-CEO of PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

November 19, 1958 - 66 years ago

CEO of PayPal Holdings, Inc. for

8 years 2 months (Jul 2015 - Sep 2023)

Previous Experience

President and CEO of American Express

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Dan Schulman

R

Vladimir Tenev

Founder and CEO of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.39M

Salary

$34.25K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$2.40M

Total Holdings

$1.97B

A

Andrew R. Jassy

CEO of Amazon

2023 Compensation

Stock

$27.83M

Salary

$365.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$992.76K

Total Holdings

$19.04M

B

Jack Dorsey

Founder and CEO of Block

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$2.75

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$980.58K

V

Ryan McInerney

CEO of Visa

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$5.25M

Other

$269.94K

Total Holdings

$94.52M

A

Libor Michalek

CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc.

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$35.34K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$374.47K

Total Holdings

$45.99M

Holdings

See how much did Dan Schulman make over time.

When it comes to Dan Schulman’s financial stakes in PayPal, he held a significant number of shares. His wealth was primarily tied to the company's performance metrics through various stock awards. At one point, he had over $30 million in...

When it comes to Dan Schulman’s financial stakes in PayPal, he held a significant number of shares. His wealth was primarily tied to the company's performance metrics through various stock awards. At one point, he had over $30 million in vested stock for 2023, reflecting his long-term commitment to the company even if it meant forgoing bonuses when performance targets weren’t hit. Schulman's holdings peaked during his tenure, showing a strong belief in the company's future, but he maintained a clear message that executive pay should align with company success. This approach is evident in his gradual stock holdings over the years, reflecting the ups and downs of PayPal’s performance.

Mar 11, 2025

F

shares

FLEX @ $33.94

P

shares

PYPL @ $68.27

Total Stock Sold

$142.95M

PYPL

$142.71M

1,058,483 PYPL shares

FLEX

$237.50K

25,000 FLEX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Dan Schulman didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PYPL1,058,483 shares worth $112.03M and FLEX25,000 shares worth $220.25K.
This is -21.48% and $30.70M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PYPL

14,382 shares

PYPL

Recent Charitable Transactions

PYPL

8,669 shares

PYPL

Jul 26, 2019

Charity

PYPL

5,713 shares

PYPL

Jul 27, 2018

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Dan Schulman.

PYPL

42,441 shares

PYPL

Dec 11, 2023

Received

PYPL

42,441 shares

PYPL

Sep 27, 2023

Received

PYPL

126,370 shares

PYPL

Apr 1, 2023

Received

PYPL

130,034 shares

PYPL

Mar 1, 2023

Received

PYPL

$1.99M

PYPL at $76.17/share

Feb 17, 2023

Purchase

PYPL

126,370 shares

PYPL

Apr 1, 2022

Received

PYPL

209,790 shares

PYPL

Mar 1, 2022

Received

PYPL

3,598 shares

PYPL

Feb 15, 2022

Received

PYPL

$998.17K

PYPL at $124.87/share

Feb 3, 2022

Purchase

PYPL

$1.91M

PYPL at $190.67/share

Dec 10, 2021

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Dan Schulman make over time.

In 2023, Dan Schulman earned a total compensation of $22.1 million, with a base salary of $947,115. Notably, he did not receive cash bonuses for 2022 and 2023 due to missed performance metrics, proving that his pay was closely tied to how well PayPal performed. The major component of his earnings came from $30.7 million in vested stock awards, pushing his compensation to reflect long-term performance over short-term gains. His pay structure emphasized a philosophy of just rewards linked to achieving ambitious company goals, as he consistently chose to align his compensation with the interests of shareholders rather than personal gain. Schulman's focus on performance-based pay is clear, with a strong belief that it should reflect actual results rather than easy wins or luck.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$32.83M

Salary

$947.12K

Board Justification

PayPal's compensation philosophy focuses on aligning executive compensation with long-term shareholder value, emphasizing performance-based incentives and retention strategies.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No cash bonus was awarded for 2023 due to performance metrics not being met.

Other

$1.17M

Board Justification

Includes continued salary payments and other benefits related to the retirement agreement.

Restricted Stock

$30.71M(432.51K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested in 2023 were based on prior grants, with the value realized upon vesting.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2023 included revenue growth and non-GAAP operating margin, which were not achieved.

Other PayPal Holdings, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of PayPal Holdings, Inc.

Alex Chriss

CEO of PayPal Holdings, Inc.

September 2023 - Present