Jeffrey M. Leiden is the CEO and Chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a company making waves in the biotech world with its innovative treatments. He stepped into the CEO role in February 2012 after joining Vertex as CEO Designee in late...

Jeffrey M. Leiden is the CEO and Chairman of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a company making waves in the biotech world with its innovative treatments. He stepped into the CEO role in February 2012 after joining Vertex as CEO Designee in late 2011. Before Vertex, he was a Managing Director at Clarus Ventures, a venture capital firm, and before that, he held top roles at Abbott Laboratories. At Vertex, Dr. Leiden played a vital part in developing game-changing drugs for cystic fibrosis, transforming the company’s future. His financial stake in Vertex is strong, with more than $17 million in stock holdings as of early 2024, showing he believes deeply in the company’s mission. He made a big impact on Vertex's turnaround strategy and focuses on bringing new therapies to patients. Under his guidance, Vertex has become a leader in treating complex diseases which is reflected in both its market success and growth.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEOs

V

Jeffrey M. Leiden

Ex-CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Education

B.A., Ph.D. in virology and M.D. from the University of Chicago

Field of Expertise

Healthcare & Life Sciences - Medicine

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals for

8 years 1 month (Feb 2012 - Mar 2020)

Previous Experience

Managing Director at Clarus Ventures LLC, President and COO at Abbott Laboratories

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Jeffrey M. Leiden

P

Albert Bourla

CEO of Pfizer

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.79M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$2.26M

Total Holdings

$18.38M

A

Sundar Pichai

CEO of Alphabet Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$155.42M

Salary

$2.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$6.80M

Total Holdings

$459.19M

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

M

Stéphane Bancel

CEO of Moderna

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.58M

Bonus

$1.91M

Other

$1.07M

Total Holdings

$491.74M

E

David A. Ricks

CEO of Eli Lilly

2023 Compensation

Stock

$18.84M

Salary

$1.65M

Bonus

$4.40M

Other

$263.07K

Total Holdings

$584.55M

I

Gary S. Guthart

CEO of Intuitive Surgical

2022 Compensation

Stock

$5.79M

Salary

$873.08K

Bonus

$1.36M

Other

$1.50K

Total Holdings

$615.05M

Holdings

See how much did Jeffrey M. Leiden make over time.

Dr. Jeffrey Leiden has significant holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, valued at over $17 million as of February 2024. His stock portfolio shows his strong belief in the company’s future. In the past, he experienced fluctuations in his net worth based...

Dr. Jeffrey Leiden has significant holdings in Vertex Pharmaceuticals, valued at over $17 million as of February 2024. His stock portfolio shows his strong belief in the company’s future. In the past, he experienced fluctuations in his net worth based on Vertex's stock performance, reflecting typical market cycles. Notably, the value of his shares peaked during major product launches, significantly aligning his financial interests with company success. His holdings demonstrate a continuous commitment to Vertex and confidence in its ongoing growth and leadership in biotechnology, particularly in developing therapies for cystic fibrosis.

Mar 18, 2025

D

shares

DGX @ $NaN

V

shares

VRTX @ $512.23

Total Stock Sold

$482.89M

VRTX

$482.89M

2,683,566 VRTX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Jeffrey M. Leiden didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra VRTX2,683,566 shares worth $661.79M.
This is 37.05% and $178.90M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

VRTX

2,500 shares

VRTX

Recent Charitable Transactions

VRTX

2,500 shares

VRTX

Dec 12, 2014

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Jeffrey M. Leiden.

VRTX

7,209 shares

VRTX

Feb 12, 2025

Received

VRTX

15,414 shares

VRTX

Feb 4, 2025

Received

VRTX

$1.89M

VRTX at $499.00/share

Aug 30, 2024

Sale

VRTX

$3.78M

VRTX at $419.10/share

Feb 14, 2024

Sale

VRTX

$1.42M

VRTX at $419.58/share

Feb 12, 2024

Sale

VRTX

38,623 shares

VRTX

Feb 6, 2024

Received

VRTX

$2.79M

VRTX at $419.07/share

Jan 8, 2024

Sale

VRTX

$5.34M

VRTX at $399.80/share

Dec 13, 2023

Sale

VRTX

$4.85M

VRTX at $374.00/share

Oct 16, 2023

Sale

VRTX

$700.52K

VRTX at $349.56/share

May 5, 2023

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Jeffrey M. Leiden make over time.

In 2020, Jeffrey M. Leiden’s total compensation was reported at $11.66 million, which is a mix of his salary and performance-based stock awards. His salary was about $1.12 million, and the rest came from stock that vested due to meeting company performance goals. He didn't receive a cash bonus that year as part of his Executive Chairman role, showing a focus on long-term incentives. Over the years, his compensation has fluctuated with his role and the company's performance, indicating how well he aligns his interests with that of Vertex. His total earnings reflect acquired wealth built through successful company initiatives, demonstrating clear awareness of performance-based rewards.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$14.50M

Salary

$1.12M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance alignment with company goals and shareholder interests, with a significant portion of compensation tied to performance metrics.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2020 as per the compensation structure for the Executive Chairman role.

Other

$43.14K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes 401(k) match, life insurance premiums, and contributions to the Vertex Foundation Matching Gift Program.

Restricted Stock

$13.34M(13.34M RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested in 2020 were based on performance metrics achieved in prior years, specifically related to Vertex's financial and operational goals.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics included achieving financial targets related to CF net product revenues and advancing clinical programs.

Other Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Matthew W. Emmens

Ex-CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

May 2009 - February 2012

Reshma Kewalramani

CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals

April 2020 - Present