EA CEO Compensation Surges by $5 Million Amidst Employee Pay Decline, Proxy Filing Reveals

Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, has recently come under scrutiny following revelations about executive and employee pay disparities.

According to EA’s latest proxy filing and reporting by Stephen Totilo at Game File, CEO Andrew Wilson’s annual compensation increased by $5 million this year.

This notable increase brings Wilson’s total compensation to approximately $39 million, a number that represents one of the largest CEO pay packages currently seen in the gaming industry. The disclosure comes as EA also reported a significant decrease in the median annual income for its full-time employees.

For the year 2024, the company stated that the median salary for its staff was $117,000, down from $149,000 in 2023.

This $32,000 drop in median income reflects a substantial shift in employee remuneration and further emphasizes the widening gap between executive compensation and the average worker’s wages at the company. The methodology behind EA’s reported figures includes both cash bonuses and stock grants, which can fluctuate year to year.

According to the proxy filing, EA calculates the figure using a median average—a method that identifies the middle value of all employee salaries, rather than the mean.

"Interestingly, EA noted that it used the 'same median employee' for 2025 as it had used in prior years when comparing to Wilson’s compensation," Stephen Totilo explained in his report for Game File.

However, the company did not provide specific details accounting for the sharp decline in median employee pay. Andrew Wilson has served as CEO of Electronic Arts since 2013, leading the publisher through numerous successful launches and ongoing expansions of its popular franchises, including FIFA, Madden NFL, and the Battlefield series.

Under his leadership, EA has also expanded its footprint in digital game distribution and live services, primarily through platforms like the EA Play subscription and the EA App. The significant gap between executive and employee compensation at EA has sparked discussion across the gaming industry and online gaming communities.

While executive rewards can sometimes be justified by company performance, the juxtaposition of Wilson’s rising pay with falling employee median salaries raises important questions about compensation strategies in the sector. As EA continues to be a leading force in the global gaming market, the company’s transparency regarding compensation is now under greater public and media scrutiny.

Stakeholders and industry observers alike will be closely watching for further disclosures and potential responses from both EA’s management and its workforce. For more in-depth analysis and ongoing updates about Electronic Arts, CEO compensation, and industry pay trends, stay tuned to our gaming news coverage.

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