Eugene M. Isenberg was the CEO of Nabors Industries from 1987 until 2011. His tenure was marked by substantial successes and some controversies. Isenberg negotiated a salary that started at $825,000 in 2006 and peaked significantly with bonuses. In 2011,...

Eugene M. Isenberg was the CEO of Nabors Industries from 1987 until 2011. His tenure was marked by substantial successes and some controversies. Isenberg negotiated a salary that started at $825,000 in 2006 and peaked significantly with bonuses. In 2011, he earned close to $20 million, although he chose to forgo about $4 million of his contractual bonus that year. Isenberg’s leadership saw the company navigate through ups and downs, including earning annual bonuses that at times reached tens of millions based on company performance. He also faced scrutiny when his employment agreement included a potential $100 million payout if he was constructively terminated—an amount he ultimately chose not to pursue. Isenberg agreed to remain as Chairman after stepping down as CEO, and his influence on Nabors Industries was long-lasting. His insider trading activities from 2019 to 2024 showed substantial selling of Nabors stock, with monthly transactions often exceeding $10 million, indicating his strong position and involvement in the company even after his official departure as CEO.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Nabors Industries CEOs

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Eugene M. Isenberg

Ex-CEO of Nabors Industries

Education

Bachelor's degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Energy

Born

November 1, 1929 - 95 years ago

CEO of Nabors Industries for

24 years 9 months (Jan 1987 - Oct 2011)

Previous Experience

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nabors Industries since 1987.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Eugene M. Isenberg

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Ben M. Palmer

CEO of RPC

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$450.00K

Bonus

$340.20K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$8.24M

H

Jeffrey A. Miller

CEO of Halliburton

2023 Compensation

Stock

$27.46M

Salary

$1.60M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$659.12K

Total Holdings

$29.98M

O

Denise Castillo-Rhodes

CEO of Oil States International

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$925.00K

Bonus

$838.86K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$487.94K

P

Samuel D. Sledge

CEO of ProPetro Holding Corp.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$224.60K

Salary

$800.00K

Bonus

$735.80K

Other

$41.41K

Total Holdings

$4.01M

A

John J. Christmann IV

CEO of APA Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$611.30K

Total Holdings

$1.32M

O

Roderick A. Larson

CEO of Oceaneering International

2022 Compensation

Stock

$6.37M

Salary

$760.00K

Bonus

$622.16K

Other

$427.42K

Total Holdings

$1.69M

Holdings

See how much did Eugene M. Isenberg make over time.

Eugene M. Isenberg's insider trading history showcases significant fluctuations in his holdings at Nabors Industries. Starting in 2019, Isenberg executed several sizeable sales, with amounts often exceeding $10 million each month. Notably, in December 2019 alone, he sold over $21...

Eugene M. Isenberg's insider trading history showcases significant fluctuations in his holdings at Nabors Industries. Starting in 2019, Isenberg executed several sizeable sales, with amounts often exceeding $10 million each month. Notably, in December 2019 alone, he sold over $21 million worth of shares. His biggest sale happened in January 2020, reaching $22.56 million. The years that followed displayed continued sales activity, often above $15 million monthly, indicating a strategy to divest from his holdings consistently. By 2024, monthly sales volumes remained substantial but showed a gradual decline to around $10 million by September, suggesting a shift in his portfolio management or confidence in Nabors’ future. Overall, Isenberg's trading reflects a calculated approach to monetizing his investment in Nabors Industries while still holding significant amounts in the company.

Charitable Transactions

NBR

7,632 shares

NBR

Recent Charitable Transactions

NBR

381,600 shares

NBR

Dec 31, 2010

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Eugene M. Isenberg.

NBR

381,600 shares

NBR

Dec 31, 2010

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Eugene M. Isenberg make over time.

Eugene M. Isenberg's compensation at Nabors Industries illustrates the highs and lows of executive pay. From 2004 onwards, he consistently earned substantial salaries, with his lowest being $825,000 in 2006. However, bonuses typically made up the bulk of his earnings. In 2011, his total compensation soared to nearly $20 million, including a $15.5 million bonus based on company performance, which he voluntarily reduced. Over his career as CEO, Isenberg often accepted less than his contractual bonuses, showing his willingness to adjust in varying market conditions. Yet, in more prosperous years, like in 2008, his bonus reached an eye-popping $58 million, highlighting the incredible earning potential tied to executive performance. Overall, his compensation strategy mirrored the company’s results, often fluctuating with NABOR's profitability and performance metrics.

Year

2011

Total Compensation

$34.12M

Salary

$1.30M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive compensation with company performance, focusing on cash flow generation and shareholder value.

Bonus

$15.60M

Board Justification

For 2011, Mr. Isenberg received a cash bonus of $15,595,000 after voluntarily agreeing to forego approximately $4 million of his contractual bonus.

Other

$2.57M

Board Justification

Other compensation includes various benefits such as insurance, club memberships, automobile allowance, and contributions to the Executive Plan.

Restricted Stock

$14.66M(692.94K common stock)

Board Justification

The stock that vested in 2011 was part of the restricted stock awards granted in previous years, which became fully vested during the year.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation include cash flow in excess of a percentage of shareholders' equity.

Other Nabors Industries CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Nabors Industries

Anthony G. Petrello

CEO of Nabors Industries

October 2011 - Present