Microsoft CEO Nadella's 2024 pay rose 63% to $79 million on stock awards

Stock awards for Nadella, who earned $48.5 million in 2023, climbed to about $71 million from $39 million a year earlier. Microsoft's shares had gained about 31.2% during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Backed by its investment in ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft is widely seen as a frontrunner in the race for market dominance in the rollout of generative artificial intelligence (AI) among other tech heavyweights.