Western Digital CEO Irving Tan Made $17.2 Million, 1457 Times Median Worker Pay, Proxy Shows
The annual proxy also shows audit fees paid to KPMG fell to $7,468,581 in fiscal 2026 from $13,030,647 a year earlier.
Western Digital CEO Irving Tan's total compensation came to $17,168,701, or 1457 times the $11,787 earned by the median employee, according to the company's annual proxy filing made Monday. The same document shows fees paid to auditor KPMG dropped sharply in fiscal 2026.
What the proxy says
The proxy puts the pay ratio at 1457:1, comparing Tan's package with that of the median employee at the hard-drive maker.
Audit fees paid to KPMG fell to $7,468,581 in fiscal 2026, from $13,030,647 the year before. Audit-related fees went from $2,330,739 to zero.
Tan is both CEO and a director. His 366,678 shares include 209,000 held in a personal investment company and 112,500 held in a trust, according to the ownership table.
The ballot and the board's framing
Beyond routine matters, the only item on the ballot is ratifying KPMG, which the board recommends. The proxy says KPMG has been the company's auditor since 1970.
The filing covers the first full year Western Digital has operated as a standalone hard-disk-drive company. Board Chair Martin I. Cole wrote in his letter that the company delivered strong revenue growth, margin expansion and faster free cash flow on surging demand for high-capacity storage in the age of AI. He tied the "significant stock price appreciation in fiscal 2026" to the market's recognition of that progress.
The board raised stock ownership thresholds for executives and directors, effective July 2026. Manuvir Das, described as a veteran technology executive and AI infrastructure leader, joined the board in May 2026.
What to watch
Shareholders vote on the KPMG ratification at the annual meeting, with final results due in an 8-K within four business days. The company said it will reconsider the appointment if a majority fails to back it.
The company also said it expects to pay proxy solicitor Okapi Partners up to $15,000 for the meeting, plus a reasonable amount for expenses.
The KPMG vote is the one contested-looking line on the ballot, and the 8-K with results is due within four business days of the meeting.
Sources
- Western Digital — DEF 14A (2026-10-05) — SEC EDGAR
- What's Going On With Western Digital Stock Monday? — benzinga.com
- Western Digital (WDC) Exceeds Market Returns: Some Facts to Consider — Yahoo Finance
- Western Digital Corporation (WDC) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know — Yahoo Finance
