Michael Hunkapiller, who served as the CEO of Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. from 2012 to 2020, is known for his impressive background in chemical biology. He holds a Ph.D. from Caltech and a B.S. in Chemistry from Oklahoma Baptist...

Michael Hunkapiller, who served as the CEO of Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. from 2012 to 2020, is known for his impressive background in chemical biology. He holds a Ph.D. from Caltech and a B.S. in Chemistry from Oklahoma Baptist University. Under his leadership, the company capitalized on groundbreaking advancements in DNA sequencing technology, significantly impacting the field of genetics. Notably, during his tenure, Hunkapiller opted for a unique compensation structure: for several years, he took a salary of just $1, showing his commitment to the company’s success over personal gain. He was also a general partner in a venture capital firm prior to joining Pacific Biosciences, which added to his strategic insights. Hunkapiller made headlines in 2019 when he sold shares worth $12 million in PacBio, highlighting the company's fluctuating stock performance during his leadership. His retirement in late 2020 was marked by a smooth transition to a new CEO, ensuring stability for Pacific Biosciences as it faced exciting challenges ahead. Hunkapiller remains a board member, continuing his involvement in the company's future.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Pacific Biosciences of California CEOs

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Michael Hunkapiller

Ex-CEO of Pacific Biosciences of California

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the California Institute of Technology; B.S. in Chemistry from Oklahoma Baptist University.

Field of Expertise

Healthcare & Life Sciences - Biology

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

September 9, 1957 - 67 years ago

CEO of Pacific Biosciences of California for

8 years 11 months (Jan 2012 - Dec 2020)

Previous Experience

General Partner at Alloy Ventures, Venture Capital Firm; 21 years at Applied Biosystems in various positions, including president and general manager.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Michael Hunkapiller

1

Kimberly J. Popovits

CEO of 10x Genomics, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$781.77K

Holdings

See how much did Michael Hunkapiller make over time.

While at Pacific Biosciences, Michael Hunkapiller saw significant fluctuations in his stock holdings alongside the company’s stock value. Notably, in 2019, his holdings peaked with insider trades valued at $12.22M, showing strong interest in the company’s performance. This trend continued...

While at Pacific Biosciences, Michael Hunkapiller saw significant fluctuations in his stock holdings alongside the company’s stock value. Notably, in 2019, his holdings peaked with insider trades valued at $12.22M, showing strong interest in the company’s performance. This trend continued into 2020, where he recorded some of his highest trades at $44.48M by October, reflecting the positive growth trajectory at that time. However, as the market shifted, his trades decreased significantly in the following years, illustrating the volatile nature of the biotech sector and Hunkapiller’s strategic decisions to manage risk amidst changing valuations. His holdings tell a story of a leader who was deeply intertwined with the success of Pacific Biosciences throughout his tenure.

Mar 17, 2025

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shares

PACB @ $1.24

Total Stock Sold

$141.85M

PACB

$141.85M

7,042,889 PACB shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Michael Hunkapiller didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PACB7,042,889 shares worth $25.00M.
This is -82.37% and $116.85M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Michael Hunkapiller.

PACB

$7.51M

PACB at $32.06/share

Feb 26, 2021

Sale

PACB

$21.10M

PACB at $34.83/share

Feb 24, 2021

Sale

PACB

$21.76M

PACB at $36.12/share

Feb 22, 2021

Sale

PACB

$4.58M

PACB at $36.53/share

Jan 25, 2021

Sale

PACB

$23.65M

PACB at $37.87/share

Jan 20, 2021

Sale

PACB

$16.72M

PACB at $23.88/share

Dec 21, 2020

Sale

PACB

$21.46K

PACB at $14.39/share

Nov 24, 2020

Sale

PACB

$6.02M

PACB at $15.07/share

Nov 20, 2020

Sale

PACB

$634.32K

PACB at $15.63/share

Nov 18, 2020

Sale

PACB

$675.35K

PACB at $15.90/share

Nov 16, 2020

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Michael Hunkapiller make over time.

In 2020, Dr. Hunkapiller's compensation was notably low at $1, signaling his focus on the company’s performance and long-term growth rather than personal financial gain. His total compensation details reveal a combination of a base salary, stock options, and severance, which culminated in $1,165,800—primarily driven by vested stocks worth $3.87M from previous grants. In contrast, in 2019, his total compensation was about $1,382,690, which included a salary and a bonus tied to performance metrics he nearly achieved. He consistently waived bonuses in favor of stock options, showing a willingness to align his financial interests with those of the company's shareholders. This approach was indicative of his leadership style, putting the company's well-being ahead of immediate personal rewards.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$5.04M

Salary

$582.90K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to attract and retain key executives while aligning their interests with those of stockholders through performance-based incentives.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonuses were awarded for 2020 due to his transition out of the CEO role and the lack of a cash incentive plan for the first half of the year.

Other

$582.90K

Board Justification

Cash severance of $582,900 was paid in connection with his departure from the Company as an employee.

Restricted Stock

$3.87M(150K RSUs)

Board Justification

150,000 RSUs vested in 2020 as part of his compensation package, subject to continued service until the vesting date.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2020 were not applicable to Dr. Hunkapiller as he transitioned out of his role as CEO.

Other Pacific Biosciences of California CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Pacific Biosciences of California

Christian O. Henry

CEO of Pacific Biosciences of California

September 2020 - Present