O. Bruton Smith was the CEO of Sonic Automotive, a leader in the automotive retail industry. He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was born on March 3, 1930. Under his leadership, Sonic...

O. Bruton Smith was the CEO of Sonic Automotive, a leader in the automotive retail industry. He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was born on March 3, 1930. Under his leadership, Sonic Automotive expanded significantly. Notably, in 2018, he earned a total compensation of $2.25 million, which included a base salary of $1 million and a bonus tied to company performance metrics. In 2016, his bonus alone was almost $1.9 million, demonstrating the impact he had on the company’s growth. Smith was also known for his family connections within the company; his son B. Scott Smith took over as CEO after him, showing a legacy of leadership. An exciting point in Smith's career was being appointed Executive Chairman in 2015 after serving as CEO, marking a transition that allowed him to continue influencing the company's strategic direction.