James A. Burke is the CEO of Vistra Corp., having transitioned into his role in August 2022 after serving as the President and Chief Financial Officer. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and has...

James A. Burke is the CEO of Vistra Corp., having transitioned into his role in August 2022 after serving as the President and Chief Financial Officer. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and has extensive experience in the energy sector. Before joining Vistra, he played significant roles at TXU Corp. and Energy Future Holdings, where he was President and CEO of TXU Energy from 2008 to 2016. Burke is known for aligning company performance with compensation, ensuring that his earnings are closely tied to the success of Vistra. For 2023, his total compensation reached about $10.6 million, with a salary and a substantial performance-based bonus reflecting his leadership in achieving financial goals. Interestingly, Burke has seen fluctuations in his wealth through insider trading, peaking at $49.98 million in March 2024, showing a strong alignment with stockholder interests through significant ownership of Vistra stock. His focus on financial metrics and operational performance characterizes his leadership approach at Vistra.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Vistra CEOs

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James A. Burke

CEO of Vistra

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Utilities

Born

January 1, 1972 - 53 years ago

CEO of Vistra for

2 years 8 months (Aug 2022 - Present)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Financial Officer of Vistra Corp., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vistra Corp.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James A. Burke

C

Joseph Dominguez

CEO of Constellation Energy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$10.00M

Salary

$1.18M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$222.94K

Total Holdings

$16.37M

N

Lawrence Coben

CEO of NRG Energy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$12.64M

Salary

$100.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$489.03K

Total Holdings

$42.63M

Holdings

See how much did James A. Burke make over time.

As CEO, James A. Burke has significant personal investments in Vistra Corp., reflecting his confidence in the company. His holdings peaked at around $49.98 million in March 2024, showing a consistent increase from earlier years. His investments fluctuated notably through...

As CEO, James A. Burke has significant personal investments in Vistra Corp., reflecting his confidence in the company. His holdings peaked at around $49.98 million in March 2024, showing a consistent increase from earlier years. His investments fluctuated notably through various trading months, with substantial transactions recorded throughout 2023, including a remarkable increase to nearly $24.78 million in November 2023. Burke's financial stake in Vistra aligns his interests closely with those of the shareholders, emphasizing his commitment to the company's performance and success in the market. Overall, his substantial stock holdings underline the trust he has in Vistra Corp.'s future.

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Total Stock Sold

$1.23M

VST

$1.23M

55,520 VST shares

What if they kept their stock?

If James A. Burke didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra VST55,520 shares worth $969.38K.
This is -21.16% and $260.20K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James A. Burke.

VST

30,329 shares

VST

Mar 5, 2025

Received

VST

$37.82M

VST at $142.76/share

Feb 24, 2025

Received

VST

42,989 shares

VST

Mar 5, 2024

Received

VST

117,632 shares

VST

Feb 22, 2024

Received

VST

$120.25K

VST at $24.05/share

Mar 23, 2023

Purchase

VST

$316.88K

VST at $24.38/share

Mar 15, 2023

Purchase

VST

$198.00K

VST at $24.75/share

Mar 10, 2023

Purchase

VST

106,666 shares

VST

Mar 8, 2023

Received

VST

16,155 shares

VST

Feb 23, 2023

Received

VST

29,013 shares

VST

Aug 1, 2022

Received

Compensation History

See how much did James A. Burke make over time.

In 2023, James A. Burke's total compensation package was approximately $10.6 million, which included a base salary of $1.275 million and a performance-based bonus of about $3.158 million. This bonus reflects Burke's ability to meet specific financial and operational targets set by the board. His compensation also includes other benefits valued at nearly $32,690. No stock options or stock grants were vested during the year, as his performance stock units will vest based on ongoing achievements over a three-year period. Vistra Corp. emphasizes a pay-for-performance philosophy, which Burke exemplifies by ensuring his compensation is directly connected to the company's success and shareholder value.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$4.47M

Salary

$1.28M

Board Justification

Vistra's compensation philosophy emphasizes pay-for-performance, aligning executive compensation with company performance and stockholder interests, while ensuring competitiveness within the industry.

Bonus

$3.16M

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the Executive Annual Incentive Plan (EAIP) for 2023, which is determined by achieving specific financial and operational performance targets set by the Social Responsibility & Compensation Committee.

Other

$32.69K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes matching contributions to the Thrift Plan, financial planning services, and executive physicals.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2023 as the performance stock units (PSUs) granted in 2023 will vest in the future based on performance metrics over a three-year period.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for 2023 included Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth, and operational performance indices.

Other Vistra CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Vistra

Curtis A. Morgan

Ex-CEO of Vistra

October 2016 - August 2022