Morgan Stanley CEO Pay Jumps 32% to $45 Million
Synopsis
Morgan Stanley increased CEO Ted Pick’s total compensation to $45 million for 2025, marking a 32% rise from the prior year. The pay details were disclosed in a regulatory filing. The board cited strong performance in investment banking and trading during Pick’s first full year as chief executive. Pick succeeded James Gorman in January 2024. Executive compensation at major Wall Street banks remains closely watched by investors and is largely tied to firm profitability and long-term stock performance.
Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick's pay increased to $45 million for 2025, the bank disclosed in a regulatory filing. The 32% rise follows strong performance in investment banking and trading during Pick’s first full year as chief executive of the Wall Street firm.
Key Highlights
- Ted Pick’s total 2025 compensation rose 32% to $45 million
- Increase reflects strong investment banking and trading results
- Pick became CEO in January 2024, succeeding James Gorman
- Pay details were disclosed in a filing
Ted Pick, the Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley, received a pay package worth $45 million in 2025, as reported.
The package is an increase of 32% over the last year. In January 2024, Pick replaced James Gorman as CEO of the firm, who had served for over a decade.
The pay consists of the base salary, stock options, and performance pay. The executive compensation of big banks can be characterised as a substantial percentage of compensation based on financial performance and shareholder performance.
In the explanation of the higher pay, Morgan Stanley cited high performance in investment banking and trading businesses in the year 2025, as approved by the board.
Stronger Investment Banking and Trading Results
The bank has registered improved performance in the institutional securities division that involves advisory and trading activities.
Activities in investment banking, such as equity underwriting and advisory, increased in the year. The trading revenues were also strong, even in changing market conditions.
The findings were used to help improve the overall firm performance and had an effect on the executive compensation decisions.
In the filing, the board of Morgan Stanley claimed that the compensation was based on the good performance of the firm.
The compensation plan is tied to a significant percentage of the award to stock-based rewards, which implies that compensation is paid based on the performance of the company in the long term.
The disclosure did not contain any public comments on the side of Pick.
Leadership Transition and Strategy
In January 2024, James Gorman resigned, and Ted Pick was appointed as the new CEO. Gorman had presided over a strategic shift to wealth management in an effort to have more predictable revenue streams.
Prior to his appointment to the position of CEO, Pick headed the institutional securities business. Today, he is in charge of the global operations of Morgan Stanley, which also includes wealth management, investment management and capital markets.
The pay of top management in the large Wall Street companies is heavily examined by the shareholders, especially during turbulent times in the market.
The annual governance process of Morgan Stanley shareholders will involve executive compensation.
The pay decisions of the future will be determined by the financial performance and the market scenario, and also by the strategic advancement of the bank under the leadership of Pick in 2026.
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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