Ted Sarandos’s biography and earnings: here is the salary (and pension) of the Army general who has now become a member of the European Parliament for the League.
The advent of Netflix marked a turning point in the digital streaming landscape. More than just a brand in the entertainment industry, the platform has become a global phenomenon that has redefined the production, distribution, and consumption of audiovisual content.
Founded in 1997 as a mail-order DVD rental service, Netflix now has over 301.6 million subscribers in over 190 countries and a vast catalog of award-winning original productions that influence tastes and trends worldwide. But who leads the company that has completely revolutionized the online entertainment industry? Meet Ted Sarandos, co-CEO – along with Greg Peters – of the leading global streaming platform.
Ted Sarandos’ Biography: From Origins to Success
Of Greek descent through his paternal grandfather, Theodore Anthony Sarandos Jr. was born on July 30, 1964, in Long Branch, New Jersey, but grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, in a middle-class family. His father worked as an electrician, while his mother took care of the household.
Unable to travel for financial reasons, the young Sarandos spent a lot of time in front of the television watching American cult programs like "I Love Lucy," "The Jack Benny Program," and "The Andy Griffith Show," a passion that, unknowingly, would develop in him a particular sensitivity for storytelling. The influences of Greek culture also played an important role in Ted’s growth, especially professionally: his value for work and pragmatic approach to business remain cornerstones of his management style to this day.
Unlike many Silicon Valley CEOs, Sarandos didn’t follow a traditional academic path and never completed college, choosing instead to immediately dive into the world of work. His career began humbly, working at a video store, a place where the young man further honed his innate talent for quickly understanding customer tastes. Thanks to his skills, Sarandos was later entrusted with an entire chain of video rental stores, an opportunity that allowed him to further deepen his knowledge of content distribution.
In 2000, when Netflix was still a small video rental startup, Sarandos was hired as Chief Content Officer, a corporate executive responsible for content strategy and management. His forward-thinking vision for original content would prove crucial to the company’s global success, so much so that in 2020, Ted was named co-CEO alongside Greg Peters.
Sarandos currently lives in Los Angeles, USA, with his wife, Nicole Avant—former US Ambassador to the Bahamas under the Obama administration—and their two children.
Ted Sarandos’ Net Worth: How Much Does He Make from Netflix?
The evolution of Ted Sarandos’s net worth has closely followed Netflix’s growth trajectory. When he joined the company in 2000, his compensation was relatively modest. The first significant increase came in 2013, with the launch of "House of Cards," the platform’s first original series to achieve global success.
Since then, Netflix has embarked on a new strategic cycle focused on the production of original content, including cult series such as "Arrested Development" and "Orange Is the New Black." This paradigm shift not only marks the platform’s rise in the global streaming market, but also a significant increase in Sarandos’s net worth.
According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the federal agency responsible for overseeing the financial markets, Sarandos holds 15,168 Netflix shares as of May 2025, valued at approximately $18 million. However, this represents only a fraction of his total net worth. Over the past five years, Sarandos has executed 13 trades on Netflix stock, all for sale and none for purchase, a strategy geared towards progressively monetizing stock options and diversifying his assets.
Ted Sarandos’s current salary: staggering figures
A further turning point occurred in 2020, when Ted Sarandos was named co-CEO. This role not only brought with it expanded executive responsibilities but also a significant pay increase.
Sarandos’s compensation has consistently ranked among the highest in the global corporate landscape. According to Netflix’s proxy statement filed with the SEC in April 2025, Sarandos’ total compensation for fiscal year 2024 amounts to $61.9 million, a 24% increase from $49.8 million in 2023.
The compensation structure is structured according to corporate governance best practices and features a strong variable component tied to performance. The base salary is stable at $3 million, a marginal portion of the total. The majority of the compensation consists of $42.7 million in stock awards, plus a $12 million cash bonus under the non-equity incentive plan. The $2.25 million package in option awards and benefits is rounded out by non-detailed perks, which typically include executive healthcare coverage, personal security services, and use of a company aircraft.
Ted Sarandos’s Ranking Among the World’s Highest-Paid CEOs
According to the Wall Street Journal’s ranking of the 10 Highest-Paid CEOs in the World in 2024, Ted Sarandos ranks eighth with $$61.92 million, a figure confirmed by the proxy statement filed with the SEC.
Greg Peters, co-CEO of Netflix, also appears in the top ten, ranking tenth with $60.27 million. The simultaneous presence of both CEOs in the ranking is exceptional and, above all, a confirmation of the strategic importance of the streaming platform globally.
Sarandos’s position is even more significant considering he belongs to a sector that has historically been lower paid than the tech or finance industries. Even a comparison with other entertainment executives such as those from Disney, Warner Bros., or Universal—none of which are in the top ten—confirms Netflix’s absolute leadership in the sector.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è e quanto guadagna Ted Sarandos, co-Ceo di Netflix
