Revolut's chief executive could be in line for a multibillion-dollar payout if the fintech's valuation surpasses the $150bn mark, drawing parallels to Elon Musk's contentious Tesla package.
Nik Storonsky, who established Revolut in 2015, has an incentive agreement that would boost his stake in the London-based fintech by several percentage points if the valuation more than triples its current level, as reported by .
If the company achieves all its targets, the total number of shares available to Storonsky could be as much as ten per cent of the company, according to the Financial Times.
The package would entail gradual increases to Storonky's earnings, as Revolut reaches higher valuation milestones.
This echoes Musk's staggering $56bn performance-based package for Tesla in 2018.
The tech entrepreneur wouldn't receive a salary or cash bonus, but could instead earn 12 tranches of stock options.
These options would be unlocked as Tesla met different objectives related to market value, revenue and profitability. The full payout required Tesla's valuation to exceed $650bn, a goal the company achieved in 2021.
However, the deal sparked legal controversy as shareholders argued Musk was being given an excessive package despite the strong performance.
A US judge nullified the package in 2024 after allegations that the board was not independent, and engaged in sham negotiations that resulted in giving Musk an oversized package.
Revolut's rapid rise to the top
In late 2024, Revolut achieved a valuation of $45bn following a secondary share sale.
The fintech giant more than doubled its pre-tax profit in the financial year of 2024, surpassing £1bn for the first time.
The number of active customers surged by 38 per cent to 52.5 million, outstripping some of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's largest banks.
Last year, Revolut launched its cryptocurrency exchange, known as Revolut X, tapping into the burgeoning trading activity within the crypto sector.
City officials had their sights set on a London listing for the firm, anticipating it would boost the struggling London Stock Exchange.
However, Storonky dismissed the idea of an IPO in London last year, criticising it as "not rational" due to the US market being "much more liquid [and] trading in the US is free."
