Thomas Peterffy is the founder and former CEO of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. He was born in Hungary in 1944 and moved to the United States in 1965. He studied Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Budapest. Peterffy is...

Thomas Peterffy is the founder and former CEO of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. He was born in Hungary in 1944 and moved to the United States in 1965. He studied Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Budapest. Peterffy is known for pioneering the use of computer technology in trading, creating one of the first automated market-making systems for stocks and options in the 1980s. Under his leadership, Interactive Brokers became a crucial player in the online brokerage space, launching in 1993. He stepped down as CEO in September 2019 but continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board. Interestingly, Peterffy has a unique approach to compensation – he didn't take bonuses or stock options, focusing solely on his salary, which was $800,000 for several years. His holdings in Interactive Brokers have seen significant fluctuations, peaking at around $210 million in 2024. This reflects his deep commitment to the company and its success, driven by his belief that he aligns better with shareholders without extra incentives like bonuses.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. CEOs

I

Thomas Peterffy

Founder and Ex-CEO of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Budapest

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

July 30, 1944 - 80 years ago

CEO of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. for

41 years 8 months (Jan 1978 - Sep 2019)

Previous Experience

Founder of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Thomas Peterffy

R

Vladimir Tenev

Founder and CEO of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.39M

Salary

$34.25K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$2.40M

Total Holdings

$1.97B

C

Walter W. Bettinger II

CEO of Charles Schwab Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$23.00M

Salary

$1.50M

Bonus

$4.10M

Other

$17.71K

Total Holdings

$79.25M

N

Jen-Hsun Huang

Founder and CEO of Nvidia

2023 Compensation

Stock

$61.63M

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$4.00M

Other

$2.49M

Total Holdings

$99.30B

T

William Hult

CEO of Tradeweb Markets Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.03M

Salary

$750.00K

Bonus

$3.38M

Other

$55.88K

Total Holdings

$22.19M

B

Jack Dorsey

Founder and CEO of Block

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$2.75

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$980.58K

C

Brian Armstrong

Founder and CEO of Coinbase Global, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$3.70M

Total Holdings

$8.55B

Holdings

See how much did Thomas Peterffy make over time.

Peterffy has shown significant commitment to Interactive Brokers by holding a large portion of his wealth in the company's stock. His holdings fluctuated over time, recently peaking at approximately $210 million by September 2024. In the past, the value of...

Peterffy has shown significant commitment to Interactive Brokers by holding a large portion of his wealth in the company's stock. His holdings fluctuated over time, recently peaking at approximately $210 million by September 2024. In the past, the value of his holdings showcased his confidence in the business, which stemmed from his extensive experience in the trading industry. Historically, the value of his stock holdings has varied substantially, reaching as high as $208.34 million in May 2024, before slightly decreasing to $206.98 million in July 2024. Currently, it has experienced another rise, reflecting both market conditions and company performance. Peterffy's long-term focus has helped shape Interactive Brokers into a leading brokerage firm while maintaining a significant stake in its future.

Mar 11, 2025

I

shares

IBKR @ $169.52

Total Stock Sold

$632.75M

IBKR

$632.75M

9,369,706 IBKR shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Thomas Peterffy didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra IBKR9,369,706 shares worth $426.60M.
This is -32.58% and $206.14M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

IBKR

250,000 shares

IBKR

Recent Charitable Transactions

IBKR

250,000 shares

IBKR

Dec 24, 2015

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Thomas Peterffy.

IBKR

$3.14M

IBKR at $78.49/share

Jan 26, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$3.16M

IBKR at $79.01/share

Jan 24, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$3.15M

IBKR at $78.80/share

Jan 20, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$3.16M

IBKR at $79.01/share

Jan 18, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$3.08M

IBKR at $76.92/share

Jan 13, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$1.93M

IBKR at $75.68/share

Jan 11, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$3.04M

IBKR at $76.06/share

Jan 9, 2023

Sale

IBKR

$30.04K

IBKR at $75.09/share

Dec 13, 2022

Sale

IBKR

$3.04M

IBKR at $76.06/share

Dec 8, 2022

Sale

IBKR

$3.10M

IBKR at $77.48/share

Dec 6, 2022

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Thomas Peterffy make over time.

In terms of compensation, Thomas Peterffy has consistently earned a salary of $800,000 per year from 2015 until 2019, with no bonuses or stock options included. This approach highlights his belief that his significant ownership in Interactive Brokers would align his interests directly with those of the shareholders. His compensation structure focuses purely on salary, avoiding any short-term incentives that would distract from the company's long-term goals. The consistent $800,000 salary shows a deliberate choice to maintain stability in his compensation strategy, while also emphasizing that his wealth primarily comes from his stake in the company. Over his years in leadership, this strategy has reflected his commitment to Interactive Brokers' success as well as the faith he has in its business model.

Year

2019

Total Compensation

$800.00K

Salary

$800.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy of the company emphasizes that executive compensation should be linked to individual performance and overall company performance, with a focus on long-term value and retention of high-quality talent.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Peterffy did not take a cash bonus in accordance with historical practices.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Peterffy did not receive any other compensation in 2019.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

Mr. Peterffy was not granted stock awards under the Stock Incentive Plan for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics determining Mr. Peterffy's compensation were qualitative assessments rather than specific financial or operating performance goals.

Other Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

Milan Galik

CEO of Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.

October 2019 - Present