Nintendo's top earners have modest salaries compared to other industry executives. Find out how much they earn annually, how it compares to other executives and how Nintendo allocates its funds.
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Nintendo's Directors Get Modest Salary Compared To Other Industry Executives
Salary Is Lower Despite Successful Endeavors in Film and Theme Parks
Nintendo recently released its annual report for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, shedding light onto the salaries of some of the company's most prominent figures.
Surprisingly, despite the success of the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Movie, and the Nintendo theme park, the salaries of Nintendo's top earners were relatively modest, compared to other industry executives. The report also highlights Nintendo's strategic investments in various companies, solidifying their software supply chain.
Nintendo's Top Earners
The report listed five of Nintendo's highest-earning individuals. Company president Shuntaro Furukawa led the list, followed by Directors Shigeru Miyamoto, Shinya Takahashi, Satoru Shibata, and Ko Shiota.
While one might expect these influential figures to have substantial incomes, their salaries were comparatively modest. Here are the annual salaries of Nintendo's top earners:
| Directors | Annual Salary in JPY | Annual Salary in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Shuntaro Furukawa | ¥292 million | $2.02 million |
| Shigeru Miyamoto | ¥292 million | $2.02 million |
| Shinya Takahashi | ¥232 million | $1.61 million |
| Satoru Shibata | ¥172 million | $1.19 million |
| Ko Shiota | ¥132 million | $910,000 |
Comparisons with Other Industry Executives
While the annual salaries of Nintendo's top earners are undoubtedly substantial, they pale compared to the earnings of other industry CEOs. According to a report from Games One, a market intelligence firm, the highest-earning CEOs in the industry command significantly higher salaries. Here are some notable examples for the year 2020:
| Company | CEO | Annual Salary in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Activision Blizzard | Bobby Kotick | $154 million |
| EA | Andrew Wilson | $34.7 million |
| Zynga | Frank Gibeau | $32 million |
| Take-Two Interactive | Strauss Zelnick | $18.1 million |
| Square Enix | Yosuke Matsuda | $4.1 million |
| Sega Sammy | Hajime Satomi | $2.9 million |
Nintendo's Approach and Investments
Nintendo's modest salaries for its top executives reflect the company's distinctive approach to compensation. While these figures may appear low compared to other Japanese companies, it showcases how Nintendo operates differently in the industry.
Moreover, the annual report also reveals that Nintendo has invested in several companies, including Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Konami Group Corporation, and Koei Tecmo Holdings. These strategic partnerships ensure a stable supply of software for Nintendo's platforms, strengthening their business operations.
Source:
Game Companies CEO Pay in 2020
Nintendo Annual Report 2023
