Reed Hastings played a big role in shaping Netflix into the streaming giant we know today. He co-founded the company back in 1997, directing it through major shifts in the entertainment industry. In 2023, Hastings stepped down as co-CEO and...

Reed Hastings played a big role in shaping Netflix into the streaming giant we know today. He co-founded the company back in 1997, directing it through major shifts in the entertainment industry. In 2023, Hastings stepped down as co-CEO and took the role of Executive Chairman, focusing more on strategy and growth. His leadership helped Netflix hit over 260 million subscribers and hit about $33.7 billion in revenue by the end of 2023. In 2022, his compensation stood out at over $51 million, primarily from stock options. Hastings’s deep understanding of technology and media has kept Netflix innovative, allowing the company to adapt and thrive in tough market conditions. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Stanford, tying his tech expertise into the business.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Netflix CEOs

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Reed Hastings

Founder and Ex-CEO of Netflix

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Stanford University

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Technology

Sector of Economy

Communication Services

Born

October 8, 1960 - 64 years ago

CEO of Netflix for

25 years 4 months (Aug 1997 - Jan 2023)

Previous Experience

Founder and CEO of Pure Software

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Reed Hastings

R

Anthony Wood

Founder and CEO of Roku, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$18.83K

Total Holdings

$1.22B

A

Sundar Pichai

CEO of Alphabet Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$155.42M

Salary

$2.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$6.80M

Total Holdings

$459.19M

A

Andrew R. Jassy

CEO of Amazon

2023 Compensation

Stock

$27.83M

Salary

$365.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$992.76K

Total Holdings

$19.04M

W

Robert A. Iger

CEO of Walt Disney

2020 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$3.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$1.78M

Total Holdings

$63.39M

C

Brian L. Roberts

CEO of Comcast

2023 Compensation

Stock

$5.32M

Salary

$2.50M

Bonus

$8.55M

Other

$199.05K

Total Holdings

$845.82M

T

Elon Musk

Founder and CEO of Tesla, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.86M

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$92.56B

Holdings

See how much did Reed Hastings make over time.

As of late 2019, Reed Hastings held over 5 million shares of Netflix, valued at approximately $1.9 billion. His holdings grew alongside Netflix's rise, peaking with a significant stock option grant in 2019 worth $30.8 million. By 2023, his focus...

As of late 2019, Reed Hastings held over 5 million shares of Netflix, valued at approximately $1.9 billion. His holdings grew alongside Netflix's rise, peaking with a significant stock option grant in 2019 worth $30.8 million. By 2023, his focus shifted from daily operations to broader company strategy, maintaining a strong financial position even as he transitioned to a new role. This change marked a strategy to allow new leaders to guide Netflix while Hastings kept his financial stake in Netflix substantial. Over his tenure, he demonstrated his commitment by making investments that reflected his confidence in the company, with fluctuations in his holdings pointing to strategic decisions timed around market performance and company growth.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

NFLX @ $929.98

Total Stock Sold

$2.01B

NFLX

$2.01B

11,451,727 NFLX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Reed Hastings didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra NFLX11,451,727 shares worth $4.25B.
This is 111.06% and $2.23B more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

NFLX

7,678,871 shares

NFLX

Recent Charitable Transactions

NFLX

47,300 shares

NFLX

Aug 7, 2024

Charity

NFLX

790,000 shares

NFLX

Jul 24, 2024

Charity

NFLX

2,000,000 shares

NFLX

Jan 24, 2024

Charity

NFLX

70,500 shares

NFLX

Nov 7, 2023

Charity

NFLX

81,400 shares

NFLX

Jul 20, 2023

Charity

NFLX

15,500 shares

NFLX

Nov 11, 2022

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Reed Hastings.

NFLX

$29.88M

NFLX at $980.27/share

Mar 3, 2025

Sale

NFLX

$31.31M

NFLX at $976.49/share

Feb 3, 2025

Sale

NFLX

936 shares

NFLX

Jan 7, 2025

Received

NFLX

$63.71M

NFLX at $888.08/share

Jan 2, 2025

Sale

NFLX

$86.50M

NFLX at $894.30/share

Dec 2, 2024

Sale

NFLX

$32.00M

NFLX at $706.66/share

Oct 1, 2024

Sale

NFLX

$17.16M

NFLX at $684.42/share

Sep 3, 2024

Sale

NFLX

47,300 shares

NFLX

Aug 7, 2024

Charity

NFLX

$16.19M

NFLX at $632.50/share

Aug 1, 2024

Sale

NFLX

790,000 shares

NFLX

Jul 24, 2024

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Reed Hastings make over time.

Reed Hastings's compensation has varied significantly over the years, reflecting Netflix's success and his evolving role. In 2023, he earned approximately $647,054, which included a $500,000 salary. However, back in 2022, his total compensation soared to more than $51 million, heavily driven by stock options. His compensation strategy has often tied into Netflix's performance metrics, focusing on revenue growth and market competitiveness. This model not only aligned his incentives with shareholders but also mirrored the company's aggressive growth strategy during its rise to a global leader in streaming. His approach to compensation highlights how closely he is tied to Netflix's overall success and future vision.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$647.05K

Salary

$510.96K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain top talent while aligning executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Reed Hastings did not participate in the Bonus Program for 2023 as he transitioned to Executive Chairman.

Other

$136.09K

Board Justification

This includes personal use of company aircraft.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 Stock Options)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2023 as all stock options granted in 2023 had a one-year vesting period.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation in 2023 were focused on F/X Neutral Revenue and F/X Neutral Operating Margin.

Other Netflix CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Netflix

Ted Sarandos

CEO of Netflix

July 2020 - Present