Microsoft gives a modest package

Cricket-loving Satya Nadella will get a base annual salary of $ 1.2 million (Rs 7.5 crore) as new chief executive officer (CEO) of Microsoft but his overall package, after including bonus and stock awards, could reach $18 million (Rs 112 crore) a year, besides other perquisites. Nadella's pay is modest in comparison to tech superstar Marissa Mayer, who got a compensation package that could total more than $70 million when she took the helm at Yahoo! two years ago.

Under his new employment agreement, the Indian-origin CEO of the $78-billion software giant will be paid his salary "semi-monthly". Forty-six-year-old Nadella, with Microsoft for 22 years, would also be eligible for a cash bonus of up to 300 per cent.