Sundar Pichai and 4 other technology CEOs whose companies spend highest on their security – TO
As tech CEOs become more visible and politically influential, companies are investing unprecedented amounts in keeping their leaders safe.
Big-name tech companies like Meta, Alphabet, and Nvidia are pouring millions into personal security for their top executives. Rising hostility toward corporate leaders, online threats, and even deadly attacks have pushed security spending to record levels.
According to data reviewed by the Financial Times, the total protection budgets for CEOs of 10 major tech firms jumped to over $45 million in 2024. Giants like Amazon, Meta, Palantir, and Nvidia all increased their spending by more than 10% compared to the previous year.
Why the Spike in Security Costs?
Experts say there’s been a surge in threats targeting high-profile business leaders. James Hamilton, a former FBI agent and security consultant, explained:
“I’ve never seen the threat or the concern higher than it is today. People are fixating on CEOs as symbols of what they think is wrong with the world.”
The violence has been real and alarming. In late 2024, United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York. Earlier this year, four people were killed in an office building attack linked to a grievance against the NFL. These incidents have rattled corporate America and prompted urgent reviews of executive protection strategies.
Security Firms Overwhelmed
Private security companies report booming demand. Joe LaSorsa, who runs an executive protection firm, said 2025 has already been busier than all of 2024. His firm has seen five times more requests for risk assessments and a sharp rise in attacks on executives’ homes.
Why Tech Leaders Are Targets
Tech CEOs are especially vulnerable. Their global fame, political influence, and controversies around layoffs, profits, and data privacy have made them frequent targets of public anger—especially since the heated 2024 U.S. election cycle.
A report by Equilar shows the tech industry saw the biggest jump in security perks for executives, with a 73.5% increase in protections offered between 2020 and 2024.
Zuckerberg Tops the List
No surprise, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has the highest security bill. In 2024 alone, Meta spent more than $27 million protecting Zuckerberg and his family at home and during travel—up from $24 million the year before. Unlike other companies, Meta covers the full cost of security for Zuckerberg’s family members, not just the CEO himself.
Other billionaires, like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, are also known to spend heavily on personal protection, though their private security costs aren’t always disclosed publicly.
#TechNews #BigTech #MarkZuckerberg #Security #ElonMusk