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.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Costco Wholesale CEOs

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James D. Sinegal

Founder and Ex-CEO of Costco Wholesale

Education

San Diego State University

Field of Expertise

Consumer Goods & Retail - Retail

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

January 1, 1936 - 89 years ago

CEO of Costco Wholesale for

28 years 3 months (Sep 1983 - Dec 2011)

Previous Experience

Co-founder of Costco, previously worked at FedMart and Price Club

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James D. Sinegal

C

Darren M. Rebelez

CEO of Casey's General Stores

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$900.00K

Bonus

$2.83M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$35.69M

l

Calvin McDonald

CEO of lululemon athletica

2023 Compensation

Stock

$5.00M

Salary

$1.29M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$33.29K

Total Holdings

$31.63M

T

Brian Cornell

CEO of Target

2023 Compensation

Stock

$13.57M

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$831.60K

Other

$469.04K

Total Holdings

$71.48M

W

C. Douglas McMillon

CEO of Walmart

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.47M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$199.58K

Total Holdings

$433.19M

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

Michael O'Sullivan

CEO of Burlington Stores

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.46M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$15.12K

Total Holdings

$86.80M

Holdings

See how much did James D. Sinegal make over time.

As of 2019, James D. Sinegal held over 631,000 shares of Costco, worth around hundreds of millions. His wealth was notably tied to these shares, which he managed carefully, holding most directly and some through trusts. During his time as...

As of 2019, James D. Sinegal held over 631,000 shares of Costco, worth around hundreds of millions. His wealth was notably tied to these shares, which he managed carefully, holding most directly and some through trusts. During his time as CEO, the value of his holdings swelled, yet he chose not to prioritize personal gain over the company’s mission. In 2001 and 2002, despite having significant stock worth, he voluntarily declined bonuses, emphasizing his alignment with shareholder interests. After announcing his retirement in 2011, he continued to hold substantial equity in Costco, reflecting his deep-rooted belief in the company’s potential and success. His commitment to Costco's growth reflects a long-term vision that kept shareholders and employees in mind, demonstrating strategic management of his financial interests coupled with corporate responsibility.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

COST @ $898.05

Total Stock Sold

$104.20M

COST

$104.20M

850,353 COST shares

What if they kept their stock?

If James D. Sinegal didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra COST850,353 shares worth $255.11M.
This is 144.83% and $150.91M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

COST

884,351 shares

COST

Recent Charitable Transactions

COST

59,806 shares

COST

Sep 2, 2018

Charity

COST

20,479 shares

COST

Sep 19, 2017

Charity

COST

2,391 shares

COST

Oct 10, 2017

Charity

COST

4,141 shares

COST

Sep 3, 2017

Charity

COST

8,800 shares

COST

Dec 16, 2016

Charity

COST

1,680 shares

COST

Oct 4, 2016

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James D. Sinegal.

COST

59,806 shares

COST

Sep 2, 2018

Charity

COST

$5.76M

COST at $192.06/share

Sep 19, 2017

Sale

COST

20,479 shares

COST

Sep 19, 2017

Charity

COST

1,870 shares

COST

Oct 10, 2017

Received

COST

1,680 shares

COST

Oct 22, 2017

Received

COST

2,391 shares

COST

Oct 10, 2017

Charity

COST

4,141 shares

COST

Sep 3, 2017

Charity

COST

$24.22K

COST at $173.01/share

May 24, 2017

Received

COST

$16.64M

COST at $166.35/share

Mar 24, 2017

Sale

COST

$2.80M

COST at $164.52/share

Oct 4, 2016

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did James D. Sinegal make over time.

James D. Sinegal’s compensation during his time at Costco was characterized by extremely modest salary levels for a CEO. He received a consistent annual salary of $350,000 for many years, with limited bonuses reflecting company performance rather than personal gain. In 2011, his total compensation was reported as roughly $191,606, which included a mix of cash bonuses and stock units totaling impressive values relative to his set salary. Even during peak years, he maintained a focus on the company's overall success, reducing his take when performance targets were missed. This approach not only kept costs lower but also aligned his interests with those of shareholders, further promoting a culture of accountability and performance at Costco.

Year

2011

Total Compensation

$2.19M

Salary

$350.00K

Board Justification

The compensation programs are designed to motivate executives and align their interests with those of shareholders, focusing on long-term performance and retention.

Bonus

$198.40K

Board Justification

Cash bonus determined by the Board or the Committee based on performance during the fiscal year, with a maximum potential of $200,000.

Other

$81.21K

Board Justification

Includes 401(k) matching contributions, health care premiums, vehicle allowance, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$1.56M(25K RSU)

Board Justification

Performance-based RSUs granted, which vested upon attainment of performance criteria, subject to further time vesting.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include a 3% increase in total sales or pretax income compared to the previous fiscal year.

Other Costco Wholesale CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Costco Wholesale

W. Craig Jelinek

CEO of Costco Wholesale

January 2012 - Present