James D. Sinegal co-founded Costco Wholesale Corp and served as CEO from 1983 to 2011. Known for his humble leadership style, he opted to keep a steady salary of $350,000 for many years while minimizing his bonuses, reflecting his belief...

James D. Sinegal co-founded Costco Wholesale Corp and served as CEO from 1983 to 2011. Known for his humble leadership style, he opted to keep a steady salary of $350,000 for many years while minimizing his bonuses, reflecting his belief that pay should tie directly to company performance. When he retired, Sinegal held over 631,000 shares of Costco, representing a significant portion of his wealth, which was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. After stepping down, he still played a role in the company as an advisor until 2013, maintaining his connection to Costco’s operations. He has a solid background in retail, having worked at both FedMart and Price Club before launching Costco. A key aspect of his legacy is his commitment to fairness and performance, which helped Costco grow to over 600 warehouses. In notable transparency, Sinegal even paid back $200,000 to Costco to address concerns over past stock option practices, showcasing his integrity as a leader.