James F. Wright served as the CEO of Tractor Supply Company from 2004 to 2012, making a notable mark during his tenure. He led the company through significant financial growth, with his total compensation peaking at over $7.3 million in...

James F. Wright served as the CEO of Tractor Supply Company from 2004 to 2012, making a notable mark during his tenure. He led the company through significant financial growth, with his total compensation peaking at over $7.3 million in 2012, backed largely by performance-based incentives. His leadership is highlighted by a remarkable 24.1% increase in net income that year, which triggered maximum annual incentives for him. Interestingly, his insider trading saw his holdings fluctuate dramatically, reaching a peak value of $135.67 million in December 2021. This fluctuating wealth shows how successful he was at navigating the company's growth. Before stepping down, he also held the position of Executive Chairman, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the company. Wright’s impact on Tractor Supply is evident as he helped the company expand and succeed in the retail landscape for farm and ranch supplies, solidifying its position in the market.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Tractor Supply Company CEOs

T

James F. Wright

Ex-CEO of Tractor Supply Company

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

Born

January 1, 1949 - 76 years ago

CEO of Tractor Supply Company for

8 years 2 months (Oct 2004 - Dec 2012)

Previous Experience

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since February 2009, previous roles include President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from October 2000 to October 2004.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James F. Wright

S

Jack Sinclair

CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market

2023 Compensation

Stock

$6.42M

Salary

$1.19M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$2.01M

Total Holdings

$19.84M

C

W. Craig Jelinek

CEO of Costco Wholesale

2022 Compensation

Stock

$3.42M

Salary

$1.15M

Bonus

$362.50K

Other

$55.36K

Total Holdings

$318.26M

K

W. Rodney McMullen

CEO of Kroger

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$672.56K

Other

$921.37K

Total Holdings

$253.52M

H

Edward "Ted" P. Decker

CEO of Home Depot

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$2.29M

Other

$74.89K

Total Holdings

$51.27M

D

Lauren R. Hobart

CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods

2023 Compensation

Stock

$10.67M

Salary

$1.31M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$34.05K

Total Holdings

$51.78M

Holdings

See how much did James F. Wright make over time.

James F. Wright witnessed significant fluctuations in his stock holdings during and after his time at Tractor Supply Company. His stake reached as high as $135.67 million in December 2021, not long after he stepped down as CEO. Throughout his...

James F. Wright witnessed significant fluctuations in his stock holdings during and after his time at Tractor Supply Company. His stake reached as high as $135.67 million in December 2021, not long after he stepped down as CEO. Throughout his tenure, there were days when his holdings were valued at over $120 million, showing how aligned his financial success was with the company's performance. In fact, in July 2021, his holdings surged to $109.19 million, illustrating a strong growth trajectory. Even as of September 2023, his holdings remain higher than they started, reflecting a successful period during his leadership that positioned the company for continued success. This remarkable rise and fall in value are a testimony to both the company’s performance under his guidance and the general volatility of stock markets.

Mar 11, 2025

T

shares

TSCO @ $54.20

Total Stock Sold

$74.87M

TSCO

$74.87M

6,680,255 TSCO shares

What if they kept their stock?

If James F. Wright didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra TSCO6,680,255 shares worth $117.88M.
This is 57.44% and $43.01M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

TSCO

1,195,360 shares

TSCO

Recent Charitable Transactions

TSCO

290 shares

TSCO

Dec 31, 2013

Charity

TSCO

27,198 shares

TSCO

Dec 18, 2013

Charity

TSCO

990 shares

TSCO

Jul 31, 2013

Charity

TSCO

155,490 shares

TSCO

Dec 29, 2012

Charity

TSCO

$500.04K

TSCO at $72.47/share

Nov 8, 2011

Charity

TSCO

48,204 shares

TSCO

Feb 9, 2011

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James F. Wright.

HRB

$145.01K

HRB at $34.90/share

Sep 10, 2015

Received

HRB

$133.25K

HRB at $32.46/share

Sep 11, 2014

Received

TSCO

$2.72M

TSCO at $77.00/share

Dec 31, 2013

Sale

TSCO

290 shares

TSCO

Dec 31, 2013

Charity

TSCO

$307.69K

TSCO at $77.00/share

Dec 23, 2013

Sale

TSCO

$2.89M

TSCO at $73.47/share

Dec 18, 2013

Sale

TSCO

27,198 shares

TSCO

Dec 18, 2013

Charity

TSCO

$20.25M

TSCO at $70.83/share

Oct 22, 2013

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did James F. Wright make over time.

James F. Wright's compensation package at Tractor Supply Company was heavily aligned with performance. In 2012, he earned a total of $7,376,067, which included a salary of $999,912 and a bonus of $2,000,001. The bonus was a result of exceeding budgeted net income by 24.1%. His vesting shares and stock options also contributed significantly, with $8,879,028 worth of restricted stock units vested in that year alone. Compensation trends show a focus on rewarding executives for delivering results, and Wright's package reflects a strong pay-for-performance philosophy. His salary remained fairly consistent over the years, while the bulk of his compensation was tied to annual bonuses and stock performance, emphasizing the importance of aligning executive pay with company success.

Year

2012

Total Compensation

$11.92M

Salary

$999.91K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is to align executive compensation with the company's performance and stockholder interests, ensuring a competitive pay-for-performance package that incentivizes executives and encourages long-term retention.

Bonus

$2.00M

Board Justification

Annual cash incentives are tied to the achievement of budgeted net income. The 24.1% increase in fiscal 2012 net income resulted in annual incentive awards being paid at the maximum level in 2012.

Other

$36.79K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to retirement plans and insurance premiums.

Restricted Stock

$8.88M(109.55K RSU)

Board Justification

The number of shares acquired on vesting in 2012, reflecting the value of the restricted stock units that vested during the fiscal year.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation included budgeted net income and actual performance exceeding budgeted targets.

Other Tractor Supply Company CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Tractor Supply Company

Gregory A. Sandfort

Ex-CEO of Tractor Supply Company

December 2012 - August 2019