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Click through to see restaurant CEO pay packages in increasing order for 2015 or the most recent fiscal year. Where applicable, pay is rounded to nearest tenth of a million.
Nation's Restaurant News compiled the total compensation for restaurant CEOs at public companies using Securities and Exchange Commission reports and other research.
The NRN analysis did not include CEOs who were hired in the middle of the year, with the exception of McDonald’s Corp. CEO Steve Easterbrook, who took the job two months into 2015 and received a higher pay package than his predecessor, Don Thompson — who received close to $7.3 million the year before.
Randy Gier, Rave Restaurant Group
Glen E. Ellman
Saed Mohseni, Bravo Brio Restaurant Group
Bravo Brio Restaurant Group
RJ Dourney, Cosi Inc.
Cosi Inc.
Steve Sather, El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc.
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc.
Ken Calwell, Papa Murphy's Holdings Inc.
Tom Dubanowich
Kevin Reddy, Noodles & Company
Matt Nager
Berke Bakay, Kona Grill Inc.
Kona Grill Inc.
Charlie Morrison, Wingstop Inc.
Wingstop Inc.
Lawrence Johnson, Fogo de Chao Inc.
Fogo de Chao Inc.
Mark Mednansky, Del Frisco's Restaurant Group
Del Frisco's Restaurant Group
Pay package: $1.1 million
Kevin Miles, Zoe's Kitchen Inc.
Kelly Williams
Pay package: $1.4 million
Russ Bendel, Habit Restaurants Inc.
Habit Restaurants Inc.
Pay package: $1.4 million
Aylwin Lewis, Potbelly Corp.
Potbelly Corp.
Pay package: $1.6 million
Tim Taft, Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc.
Lance Murray
Pay package: $1.6 million
James White, Jamba Juice Inc.
Jamba Juice Inc.
Pay package: $1.9 million
Paul Murphy, Del Taco Restaurants Inc.
Del Taco Restaurants Inc.
Pay package: $2.4 million
Greg Trojan, BJ's Restaurant Group Inc.
BJ's Restaurant Group Inc.
Pay package: $2.8 million
Cliff Hudson, Sonic Corp.
Sonic Corp.
Pay package: $3.2 million
Stephen King, Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc.
Ron Ruggless
Pay package: $3.5 million
John Schnatter, Papa John's International Inc.
Pay package: $3.6 million
Stephen Carley, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc.
Jim Stephenson
Pay package: $3.8 million
Sally Smith, Buffalo Wild Wings
Heather Leiferman/Buffalo Wild Wings
Pay package: $3.9 million
JJ Buettgen, Ruby Tuesday Inc.
Ruby Tuesday Inc.
Pay package: $3.9 million
Cheryl Bachelder, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.
Scott Housley
Pay package: $4.2 million
Wyman Roberts, Brinker International Inc.
Brinker International Inc.
Pay package: $4.5 million
John Miller, Denny's Corp.
Denny's Corp.
Pay package: $4.9 million
Ron Shaich, Panera Bread Co.
Neilson Barnard
Pay package: $4.9 million
Kent Taylor, Texas Roadhouse Inc.
Ron Bath
Pay package: $5.4 million
Nigel Travis, Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.
Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.
Pay package: $5.4 million
Julia Stewart, DineEquity Inc.
Dave Lauridsen
Pay package: $5.8 million
David Overton, Cheesecake Factory Inc.
Scott Windus Photography
Pay package: $5.9 million
Liz Smith, Bloomin' Brands Inc.
Bloomin' Brands Inc.
Pay package: $6.2 million
Lenny Comma, Jack in the Box Inc.
Kirby Yau
Pay package: $6.4 million
Randy Garutti, Shake Shack Inc.
Shake Shack Inc.
Pay package: $6.7 million
Daniel Schwartz, Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Pay package: $7.2 million
Greg Creed, Yum! Brands Inc.
Yum Brands Inc.
Pay package: $7.5 million
Sandra Cochran, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.
Pay package: $7.5 million
Michael O'Donnell, Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.
Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc.
Pay package: $7.7 million
Steve Easterbrook, McDonald's Corp.
McDonald's Corp.
Pay package: $7.9 million
Emil Brolick, Wendy's Co.
Wendy's Co.
Patrick Doyle, Domino's Pizza Inc.
Domino's Pizza Inc.
Pay package: $9.0 million
Monty Moran, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.
Jamie Kripke
Pay package: $13.6 million
Steve Ells, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.
Gina LeVay
Pay package: $13.8 million
Howard Schultz, Starbucks Coffee Corp.
Starbucks Coffee Corp.
