Dr. Min Kao is the co-founder and former CEO of Garmin Ltd, a leading company in GPS technology. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley, he brought deep technical knowledge to the company. Dr. Kao led Garmin from...

Dr. Min Kao is the co-founder and former CEO of Garmin Ltd, a leading company in GPS technology. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley, he brought deep technical knowledge to the company. Dr. Kao led Garmin from its early days in 2000 until early 2013, helping it grow into a major player in the navigation market. He is known for being a substantial shareholder in the company, which influenced his compensation choices over the years. Instead of pursuing high stock awards, he opted for a modest salary of around $500,000 in his later years, reflecting his commitment to long-term value for shareholders. His role in the expansion of Garmin into diverse markets, including aviation and marine, showcases his vision and leadership. Interestingly, between 2019 and 2021, the value of his holdings saw significant fluctuations, reaching as high as $3.15 billion, highlighting the company's changing fortunes in the marketplace. Ultimately, Dr. Kao’s career tells a story of innovation, financial strategy, and the balancing act of rewarding oneself while prioritizing company performance and stakeholder interests.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Garmin CEOs

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Dr. Min Kao

Founder and Ex-CEO of Garmin

Education

Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Engineering

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

March 29, 1956 - 69 years ago

CEO of Garmin for

12 years 6 months (Jul 2000 - Jan 2013)

Previous Experience

Co-founder of Garmin Ltd., served as CEO since its inception.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Dr. Min Kao

A

Sundar Pichai

CEO of Alphabet Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$155.42M

Salary

$2.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$6.80M

Total Holdings

$459.19M

A

Michael R. McMullen

CEO of Agilent Technologies

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.32M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$84.04K

Total Holdings

$31.10M

A

Jayshree Ullal

CEO of Arista Networks

2023 Compensation

Stock

$15.05M

Salary

$300.00K

Bonus

$200.00K

Other

$10.40K

Total Holdings

$3.15B

Holdings

See how much did Dr. Min Kao make over time.

Dr. Min Kao’s financial journey with Garmin Ltd. has been notable, especially from 2019 to 2024, when the value of his holdings fluctuated dramatically. In September 2019, his share value was $1.76 billion, which rose to $2.38 billion a month...

Dr. Min Kao’s financial journey with Garmin Ltd. has been notable, especially from 2019 to 2024, when the value of his holdings fluctuated dramatically. In September 2019, his share value was $1.76 billion, which rose to $2.38 billion a month later. After some ups and downs, it peaked at $3.15 billion in August 2021 before steadily declining to around $2.18 billion by November 2023. This fluctuation reflects the volatility in Garmin's stock and the dynamic nature of the tech market. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Kao's wealth primarily came from his significant stock ownership, directly linking his financial success to the company's growth and performance.

Total Stock Sold

$1.56B

GRMN

$1.56B

24,000,000 GRMN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Dr. Min Kao didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra GRMN24,000,000 shares worth $1.86B.
This is 19.26% and $299.55M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

GRMN

1,868,440 shares

GRMN

Recent Charitable Transactions

GRMN

66,600 shares

GRMN

Feb 27, 2025

Charity

GRMN

41,445 shares

GRMN

Sep 4, 2024

Charity

GRMN

35,025 shares

GRMN

Aug 20, 2024

Charity

GRMN

16,472 shares

GRMN

Aug 13, 2024

Charity

GRMN

39,390 shares

GRMN

Jun 11, 2024

Charity

GRMN

36,360 shares

GRMN

Jun 7, 2024

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Dr. Min Kao.

GRMN

66,600 shares

GRMN

Feb 27, 2025

Charity

GRMN

41,445 shares

GRMN

Sep 4, 2024

Charity

GRMN

35,025 shares

GRMN

Aug 20, 2024

Charity

GRMN

16,472 shares

GRMN

Aug 13, 2024

Charity

GRMN

39,390 shares

GRMN

Jun 11, 2024

Charity

GRMN

36,360 shares

GRMN

Jun 7, 2024

Charity

GRMN

36,360 shares

GRMN

Jun 7, 2024

Charity

GRMN

43,500 shares

GRMN

Mar 6, 2024

Charity

GRMN

68,000 shares

GRMN

Sep 5, 2023

Charity

GRMN

80,000 shares

GRMN

Jan 24, 2023

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Dr. Min Kao make over time.

Dr. Min Kao’s compensation at Garmin Ltd. has been quite unique compared to typical CEOs. In his final years as CEO, he chose to forgo hefty stock awards and instead requested a modest salary. In 2013, his total compensation was around $437,000, which included a $350,000 salary and a small cash bonus of $256. His rationale for this strategy was his significant ownership stake in Garmin, which meant he aligned his interests with those of the shareholders. Throughout his career, his pay was structured to reflect both company performance and his commitment to long-term value creation rather than immediate rewards. This contrasts sharply with the pay packages of many CEOs who prioritize larger salaries and bonuses.

Year

2013

Total Compensation

$437.18K

Salary

$350.00K

Board Justification

Garmin’s compensation philosophy is based on direct linkage to performance and alignment with shareholder interests, aiming to attract, motivate, and retain a highly qualified executive team.

Bonus

$256.00

Board Justification

Annual holiday cash bonus paid to all employees, including Named Executive Officers, in 2013.

Other

$86.93K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to the 401(k) plan and personal guarantees payments.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock awards were granted or vested in 2013.

Performance Metrics

Compensation is tied to individual and company performance through the use of stock compensation programs.

Other Garmin CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Garmin

Clifton A. Pemble

CEO of Garmin

January 2013 - Present