Peter B. Orthwein is the co-founder of Thor Industries, Inc., a major player in the recreational vehicle industry. He has been involved with the company since its beginning in 1980 and served as Chairman and CEO from 2009 to 2019....

Peter B. Orthwein is the co-founder of Thor Industries, Inc., a major player in the recreational vehicle industry. He has been involved with the company since its beginning in 1980 and served as Chairman and CEO from 2009 to 2019. Peter's leadership has helped Thor become one of the largest manufacturers of RVs in North America. He shifted the company’s compensation structure to focus on performance, tying executive pay to pre-tax profits. This model aligns with how Thor operates, focusing on value for shareholders and sustainable growth. In his last reported year as CEO in 2013, he took home nearly $1.99 million, mostly from stock vesting linked directly to the company’s profitability, highlighting his investment in the company’s success. Interestingly, Peter significantly increased his personal stakes in the company, with insider trading values fluctuating dramatically — peaking over $133 million in 2021. Although he retired as Executive Chairman in 2019, he still serves as a board member, ensuring his vision continues. Overall, Peter’s deep involvement with Thor lays a strong foundation for the company’s ongoing success.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Thor Industries CEOs

T

Peter B. Orthwein

Founder and Ex-CEO of Thor Industries

Education

Unknown

Field of Expertise

Business & Management - Business Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

Born

January 1, 1945 - 80 years ago

CEO of Thor Industries for

3 years 9 months (Nov 2009 - Aug 2013)

Previous Experience

Co-founder of Thor Industries

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Peter B. Orthwein

M

W. Brett McGill

CEO of MarineMax

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.45M

Salary

$975.00K

Bonus

$1.22M

Other

$9.90K

Total Holdings

$3.11M

B

David M. Foulkes

CEO of Brunswick

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.16M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$389.62K

Total Holdings

$16.97M

L

Lillian Etzkorn

CEO of LCI Industries

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$525.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$259.26K

Total Holdings

$1.09M

W

Michael J. Happe

CEO of Winnebago Industries

2022 Compensation

Stock

$250.00K

Salary

$800.00K

Bonus

$200.00K

Other

$50.00K

Total Holdings

$18.21M

R

Mark A. Skonieczny

CEO of REV Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$669.29K

Bonus

$325.00K

Other

$13.20K

Total Holdings

$20.73M

Holdings

See how much did Peter B. Orthwein make over time.

Peter B. Orthwein has made substantial investments in Thor Industries, with his personal holdings peaking at about $133 million in 2021. His insider trading activity shows significant fluctuations; for instance, his holdings were valued at $61.74 million in December 2019,...

Peter B. Orthwein has made substantial investments in Thor Industries, with his personal holdings peaking at about $133 million in 2021. His insider trading activity shows significant fluctuations; for instance, his holdings were valued at $61.74 million in December 2019, and they grew to over $107 million by July 2020. After reaching a high of approximately $116 million in February 2021, the values saw some declines, dropping to about $94 million by the end of 2023. This volatility reflects not just the dynamics of the market, but also Peter's strong commitment and belief in Thor’s long-term vision, which he has demonstrated through increased investments over the years. His holdings showed that he maintained a considerable stake in the company, even as he approached retirement.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

THO @ $81.80

Total Stock Sold

$43.80M

THO

$43.80M

567,773 THO shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Peter B. Orthwein didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra THO567,773 shares worth $24.77M.
This is -43.44% and $19.03M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

THO

259,100 shares

THO

Recent Charitable Transactions

THO

10,600 shares

THO

Jul 3, 2024

Charity

THO

119,330 shares

THO

Dec 22, 2023

Charity

THO

300 shares

THO

Dec 15, 2023

Charity

THO

1,750 shares

THO

Jul 3, 2023

Charity

THO

8,500 shares

THO

Jun 28, 2023

Charity

THO

400 shares

THO

Dec 9, 2022

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Peter B. Orthwein.

THO

350 shares

THO

Jul 3, 2024

Charity

THO

10,600 shares

THO

Jul 3, 2024

Charity

THO

119,330 shares

THO

Dec 22, 2023

Charity

THO

300 shares

THO

Dec 15, 2023

Charity

THO

1,409 shares

THO

Oct 10, 2023

Received

THO

1,750 shares

THO

Jul 3, 2023

Charity

THO

350 shares

THO

Jun 28, 2023

Charity

THO

8,500 shares

THO

Jun 28, 2023

Charity

THO

400 shares

THO

Dec 9, 2022

Charity

THO

$476.16K

THO at $79.36/share

Oct 17, 2022

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Peter B. Orthwein make over time.

In fiscal 2013, Peter B. Orthwein earned a total compensation of nearly $1.99 million as CEO of Thor Industries. The bulk of this came from a salary of $750,000 and vested stock rewards that were tied to the company's performance. Unlike typical bonuses, in 2013 he received no annual bonus, aligning his interests closely with the profitability of Thor. His compensation package was structured to reward performance, specifically linking his earnings to Thor’s financial success. In previous years, his total compensation included annual bonuses that could exceed $1 million, reflecting his ability to drive company performance during prosperous times. This model aimed to ensure that his interests as an executive coincided with those of shareholders.

Year

2013

Total Compensation

$1.99M

Salary

$750.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive compensation with the company's performance and shareholder interests, emphasizing a pay-for-performance structure that rewards executives based on the company's profitability and success.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded in 2013.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No other compensation was reported for 2013.

Restricted Stock

$1.24M(1.24M Restricted Stock Units)

Board Justification

This amount consists of a non-equity incentive plan award paid to Mr. Orthwein for Fiscal Year 2013 which was based on the same formula on which he was compensated in Fiscal Year 2012 equal to 0.5% of our pre-tax profits (excluding gain realized on the sale of the bus group and certain impairment charges) for each fiscal quarter during the fiscal year.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the CEO's compensation in 2013 were based on a percentage of the company's pre-tax profits.

Other Thor Industries CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Thor Industries

Robert W. Martin

CEO of Thor Industries

August 2013 - Present