Black executive Paul Richardson earns $5.5-million salary from Walt Disney in 2022

One of America’s leading Black Executives, Paul Richardson, the former senior executive vice president and chief human resources officer of the Walt Disney Company, received a total compensation package of $5.51 million from the American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate in 2022.

His 2022 compensation package comprises a base salary of $0.76 million and a performance-based short-term incentive of $1.67 million — a direct reflection of his pivotal role in leading human resources strategy and global talent management of Disney toward impressive financial milestones during the year.

Paul Richardson’s $5.5-million salary includes a $2.05-million long-term incentive award

The highly accomplished human resource veteran also received a long-term incentive award of $2.05 million, reflecting his unwavering dedication and expertise as a seasoned executive — his tenure at Walt Disney has not only propelled the company forward but also redefined the narrative of leadership and employee representation in Disney’s global workplace.

Thanks to Richardson’s pioneering role as the first chief diversity officer and joint strategic leadership at the helm, the Walt Disney Company’s content and products have been enhanced to resonate more effectively with consumers, with the group recording a 27.07-percent surge in gross profit — from $22.29 billion in 2021 to $28.32 billion at the end of 2022.

Richardson’s Disney legacy of diversity and financial triumph

As one of the few Black leaders at the helm of the Walt Disney Company — having served as the first chief diversity officer for Disney from 2011 to 2017 — Richardson’s rise to the senior management level was marked by numerous pivotal changes, including the implementation of Disney’s signature Heroes Work Here program. Through this initiative, the Company has successfully employed more than 10,000 veterans.

Richardson was instrumental in shaping and executing global diversity and inclusion strategies. He also played a pivotal role in the group’s impressive financial milestones, with the company’s revenue growing by more than 20 percent from $67.4 billion to $82.7 billion in 2022, while its assets saw a modest increase of 1 basis point from $203.61 billion in 2021 to $203.63 billion in 2022.