Muhtar Kent has had a fascinating career with The Coca-Cola Company. He started working there in 1978 and quickly climbed through the ranks. By 2008, he became the CEO, a role he held until 2017. His journey included significant roles...

Muhtar Kent has had a fascinating career with The Coca-Cola Company. He started working there in 1978 and quickly climbed through the ranks. By 2008, he became the CEO, a role he held until 2017. His journey included significant roles in places like Turkey and Central Asia, and he even led Coca-Cola International. Kent’s pay varied widely over the years. In 2016, he earned more than $17 million, but the next year it dropped to about $14.7 million. A big part of his earnings came from stock options tied to how well Coca-Cola performed. Interestingly, in 2014, he turned down a bonus of around $2.5 million, which says something about his focus on long-term goals rather than short-term gains. He also set a target to own shares worth eight times his salary to align his interests with shareholders. Kent stepped down as chairman at the end of 2018, marking the end of a long leadership chapter for Coca-Cola.