Fact Check: Wilson's compensation includes $25.7 million in stock awards.

Fact Check: "Wilson's compensation includes $25.7 million in stock awards."

What We Know

Andrew Wilson, the CEO of Electronic Arts (EA), received a total compensation of just over $30.5 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. This figure includes a base salary of $1.3 million, $25.7 million in stock awards, $2.8 million from a non-equity incentive plan, and $678,000 in other compensation, which primarily covers personal security benefits (Game Developer, Gamasutra). This compensation package makes Wilson the highest-paid executive at EA, earning 260 times more than the median EA worker, whose annual compensation was reported to be $117,302 (Game Developer).

Analysis

The claim that Wilson's compensation includes $25.7 million in stock awards is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Both Game Developer and Gamasutra confirm the breakdown of Wilson's total compensation, specifically highlighting the $25.7 million attributed to stock awards. Additionally, Rock Paper Shotgun and PC Gamer corroborate this information, emphasizing the significant increase in Wilson's stock awards compared to the previous fiscal year.

The reliability of these sources is high, as they are well-established within the gaming industry and provide detailed financial reporting based on EA's official Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement is a formal document that publicly traded companies are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), detailing executive compensation and other significant financial information. This adds a layer of credibility to the reported figures.

While the context surrounding Wilson's compensation—such as layoffs within the company and a decrease in median employee compensation—raises ethical questions about income disparity within the organization, it does not affect the factual accuracy of the claim regarding the stock awards.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Andrew Wilson's compensation includes $25.7 million in stock awards is accurate, as confirmed by multiple reputable sources and the official Proxy Statement from EA. The evidence clearly supports the assertion, and the sources used are credible and reliable.