James Dondero is the President and Chairman of NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., having taken on leadership in May 2015. Born in 1969, he graduated with a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Before his role at...

James Dondero is the President and Chairman of NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc., having taken on leadership in May 2015. Born in 1969, he graduated with a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Before his role at NexPoint, Dondero co-founded Highland Capital Management in 1993, where he made a significant impact by managing $14.9 billion in assets. He has dedicated over 30 years to investing in credit and equity markets, playing an essential part in developing various credit asset classes. Under his guidance, NexPoint has optimized its strategies in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and has established itself strongly in the market. Dondero is also known for his value-driven compensation approach, relying predominantly on equity-based awards rather than cash salaries, aligning his interests more closely with shareholders. His extensive experience includes being the founding president of NexPoint Advisors and involvement with several other investment firms, showcasing a career marked by strategic decision-making and resource management.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

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James Dondero

Founder and CEO of NexPoint Real Estate Finance

Education

Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Real Estate

Born

January 1, 1963 - 62 years ago

CEO of NexPoint Real Estate Finance for

5 years 1 month (Feb 2020 - Present)

Previous Experience

Co-founder of Highland Capital Management

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James Dondero

Holdings

See how much did James Dondero make over time.

As the CEO of NexPoint Residential Trust, James Dondero has exercised his leadership through various stock holdings and compensation strategies focused on equity awards. In 2020, his total compensation was exclusively derived from vested stock awards valued at approximately $3.5...

As the CEO of NexPoint Residential Trust, James Dondero has exercised his leadership through various stock holdings and compensation strategies focused on equity awards. In 2020, his total compensation was exclusively derived from vested stock awards valued at approximately $3.5 million, reflecting his commitment to aligning with shareholder interests. Notably, in the years prior, his compensation hovered between $850,000 and 1.6 million, entirely stemming from vested stocks as well, indicating a consistent reliance on stock performance to secure his earnings. Dondero's holdings have seen fluctuations over the years, particularly in 2019 and 2020, where his overall wealth reflected significant stock valuations at around $237 million at peak but experienced drops to as low as $78 million during market downturns in early 2020. Since then, his holdings have been rebuilt, indicating a strong resourcefulness in navigating market challenges while maintaining substantial equity in NexPoint.

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Total Stock Sold

$74.78M

NXRT

$74.78M

2,485,264 NXRT shares

What if they kept their stock?

If James Dondero didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra NXRT2,485,264 shares worth $56.81M.
This is -24.03% and $17.97M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

NXRT

50,155.54 shares

NXRT

Recent Charitable Transactions

NXRT

50,155.54 shares

NXRT

Dec 13, 2016

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James Dondero.

NREF

$10.33K

NREF at $20.25/share

Jan 9, 2023

Purchase

NXRT

$1.28M

NXRT at $44.78/share

Nov 4, 2022

Purchase

NXRT

$1.28M

NXRT at $44.78/share

Nov 4, 2022

Sale

NREF

$117.50K

NREF at $23.50/share

Sep 26, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$162.23K

NREF at $23.70/share

Sep 23, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$34.09K

NREF at $23.77/share

Sep 22, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$6.30K

NREF at $23.70/share

Sep 21, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$15.56K

NREF at $23.75/share

Sep 20, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$17.34K

NREF at $23.75/share

Sep 19, 2022

Purchase

NREF

$85.06K

NREF at $23.84/share

Sep 15, 2022

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did James Dondero make over time.

James Dondero's compensation model is quite unique as he receives no cash salary or bonuses from NexPoint Residential Trust. His total compensation heavily relies on the performance of the company’s stock. In 2020, he realized a substantial $3.5 million entirely through vested stock awards that had previously been granted, emphasizing his commitment to aligning interests with those of shareholders. Over the years, this equity-centric approach has defined his earnings structure, with compensation values fluctuating significantly based on stock performance, ranging from about $850,000 to $3.5 million between 2016 and 2020. This framework not only highlights a risk-taking attitude but also demonstrates his trust in the company’s growth potential since he is rewarded only as the company's market value increases. This method serves as a strong motivator for leadership that truly acts in the best interest of the shareholders, rather than being driven by short-term cash incentives.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$3.52M

Salary

$0.00

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is to align the interests of the CEO with those of the stockholders through equity-based awards, as the CEO does not receive cash compensation from the company.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No cash bonus was provided to the CEO in 2020.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No other compensation was provided to the CEO in 2020.

Restricted Stock

$3.52M(151.18K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards consist of restricted stock units that vested in 2020, with a total value of $3,516,187 based on the grant date fair value.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics are not specified, but the overall compensation is tied to the performance of the company's stock.