Michael R. Splinter is the CEO and Chairman of Applied Materials Inc., leading one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing companies in the world. He has a strong connection to the company, having served as CEO since 2003 and continuing to...

Michael R. Splinter is the CEO and Chairman of Applied Materials Inc., leading one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing companies in the world. He has a strong connection to the company, having served as CEO since 2003 and continuing to influence the board's activities. Splinter owns over 926,000 shares of Applied Materials, showing his confidence in the company’s direction. His pay structure is heavily performance-based, with a consistent salary of around $900,000, but he has earned as much as $127 million in total compensation during 2007, mainly from stock options and bonuses tied to company success. Interestingly, during tougher times in 2009, he opted not to take a bonus, showcasing his commitment to the company and its employees. Splinter has a background in engineering, holding a degree from UC Berkeley, and previously held positions at Intel. He transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman in 2015 but remains a significant figure in the company. With a focus on aligning executive interests with those of shareholders, Splinter emphasizes performance and accountability in his leadership.