Max Levchin is the founder and CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. He has been leading the company since its inception in 2012. Levchin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s not just...

Max Levchin is the founder and CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. He has been leading the company since its inception in 2012. Levchin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He’s not just any tech guy; he played a key role in creating PayPal and has experience with well-known companies like Yelp and Slide, the latter being acquired by Google. His approach focuses heavily on long-term performance. Rather than traditional executive bonuses, Levchin’s compensation is mostly tied to the value of Affirm’s stock through a unique "Value Creation Award" that has strict performance conditions. His total compensation is notably low compared to industry standards—about $409,807 in 2022—highlighting his commitment to performance-based pay. Recently, he has seen fascinating fluctuations in his company’s stock value, peaking at nearly $4 billion in insider trading values in October 2021. The evolution of his leadership style aims to revolutionize finance by delivering honest financial products that improve lives, positioning Affirm as a player in the digital payment space.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Affirm Holdings, Inc. CEOs

A

Max Levchin

Founder and Ex-CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc.

Education

B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Technology

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

April 11, 1975 - 49 years ago

CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc. for

10 years 9 months (Mar 2012 - Dec 2022)

Previous Experience

Co-founder and CEO of PayPal; Co-founder of Slide; various roles in technology and entrepreneurship

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Max Levchin

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

U

Dave Girouard

Founder and CEO of Upstart Holdings, Inc.

2021 Compensation

Stock

$8.06M

Salary

$455.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$401.64M

M

Simon Khalaf

CEO of Marqeta

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.09M

Salary

$571.46K

Bonus

$690.00K

Other

$16.70K

Total Holdings

$7.56M

B

Jack Dorsey

Founder and CEO of Block

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$2.75

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$980.58K

Holdings

See how much did Max Levchin make over time.

Max Levchin's holdings in Affirm reflect the ups and downs of the stock market. He saw his wealth soar to about $4 billion in trading values around October 2021, when Affirm was really hitting its stride. This value fluctuated significantly,...

Max Levchin's holdings in Affirm reflect the ups and downs of the stock market. He saw his wealth soar to about $4 billion in trading values around October 2021, when Affirm was really hitting its stride. This value fluctuated significantly, dropping to around $1 billion by late 2023. His sharp decline shows how volatile the tech space can be and how tied his fortune is to the company’s performance. Throughout 2022, Levchin's trading values hovered in the hundreds of millions, showcasing how his financial success aligns closely with Affirm's market behavior. This journey from nearly $4 billion down to closer to $600 million highlights both the risks and rewards that come with leading a fast-growing tech company.

Mar 18, 2025

A

shares

AFRM @ $43.70

Y

shares

YELP @ $34.99

Total Stock Sold

$99.28M

YELP

$99.28M

2,667,296 YELP shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Max Levchin didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra YELP2,667,296 shares worth $52.52M.
This is -47.1% and $46.76M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Max Levchin.

YELP

3,513,194 shares

YELP

Sep 22, 2016

Received

YELP

$10.58M

YELP at $48.07/share

Feb 13, 2015

Sale

YELP

$2.38M

YELP at $67.72/share

Dec 23, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.28M

YELP at $64.91/share

Dec 16, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.24M

YELP at $63.76/share

Dec 9, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.11M

YELP at $59.83/share

Dec 2, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.18M

YELP at $61.94/share

Nov 25, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.47M

YELP at $70.09/share

Nov 18, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.21M

YELP at $62.79/share

Nov 11, 2013

Sale

YELP

$2.35M

YELP at $66.83/share

Nov 4, 2013

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Max Levchin make over time.

Max Levchin's compensation structure is pretty interesting compared to your typical CEO packages. In 2022, he earned a total of $409,807, which includes a relatively modest salary of $35,340 and additional perks primarily for personal security and product testing. What stands out is that he doesn’t receive bonuses or stock options like many tech executives. Instead, his rewards are linked to Affirm’s stock performance through a unique set of goals that he needs to meet for his Value Creation Award. This means his pay is deeply tied to the company’s success, focusing on long-term growth and value creation rather than quick wins. Levchin’s approach really emphasizes aligning his interests with those of shareholders, offering a clear view of his commitment to the company's journey.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$72.81K

Salary

$35.34K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay, with a significant portion of the CEO's compensation being at-risk and linked to company performance.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Levchin does not participate in the annual cash incentive plan, therefore no bonus was awarded for fiscal 2023.

Other

$37.47K

Board Justification

The other compensation includes $37366 for personal security services and a $1,101 product testing stipend.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in fiscal 2023 as the Value Creation Award tranches were not earned during this period.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for fiscal 2023 included network size, total revenue, and adjusted operating income.

Other Affirm Holdings, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Affirm Holdings, Inc.

Libor Michalek

CEO of Affirm Holdings, Inc.

December 2022 - Present