Robert G. Sarver is the former CEO and current Executive Chairman of Western Alliance Bancorporation, a company he helped grow significantly since 2002. Born in 1967 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Sarver has a strong background in finance,...

Robert G. Sarver is the former CEO and current Executive Chairman of Western Alliance Bancorporation, a company he helped grow significantly since 2002. Born in 1967 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Sarver has a strong background in finance, which likely influenced his leadership approach. Under his guidance, the company saw impressive financial performance metrics that led to substantial bonuses, sometimes exceeding 140% of targets. Interestingly, Sarver is also known for owning the NBA team, the Phoenix Suns, showcasing his diverse interests outside of banking. His insider trading data reveals that at times, his personal investments in the company peaked at values over $130 million, indicating strong confidence in his leadership and the organization's direction. His compensation details illustrate that Sarver was well compensated, with totals around $5.7 million in 2017 before transitioning to his current role. Sarver’s journey reflects a blend of sports and corporate leadership, giving him a unique perspective in the finance world.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Western Alliance Bancorporation CEOs

W

Robert G. Sarver

Founder and Ex-CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

January 1, 1967 - 58 years ago

CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation for

16 years 3 months (Jan 2002 - Apr 2018)

Previous Experience

Founder of Western Alliance Bancorporation

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Robert G. Sarver

Z

Harris H. Simmons

CEO of Zions Bancorporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.56M

Salary

$1.06M

Bonus

$1.15M

Other

$67.14K

Total Holdings

$1.20M

C

John F. Woods

CEO of Citizens Financial Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$150.00K

Salary

$950.00K

Bonus

$300.00K

Other

$100.00K

Total Holdings

$13.28M

E

Dominic Ng

CEO of East-West Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$4.75M

Salary

$1.28M

Bonus

$2.22M

Other

$119.74K

Total Holdings

$85.15M

H

Zachary J. Wasserman

CEO of Huntington Bancshares

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$474.99K

Total Holdings

$4.47M

F

Timothy N. Spence

CEO of Fifth Third Bank

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.99M

Salary

$1.03M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$356.32K

Total Holdings

$3.09M

C

Bruce Van Saun

CEO of Citizens Financial Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.50M

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$300.00K

Other

$200.00K

Total Holdings

$50.98M

Holdings

See how much did Robert G. Sarver make over time.

Robert Sarver's holdings have fluctuated considerably over the years. At their peak in early 2021, his investments were valued at about $130 million, reflecting considerable confidence in Western Alliance's growth. However, by mid-2024, the value had reportedly dropped to around...

Robert Sarver's holdings have fluctuated considerably over the years. At their peak in early 2021, his investments were valued at about $130 million, reflecting considerable confidence in Western Alliance's growth. However, by mid-2024, the value had reportedly dropped to around $66 million, showing a notable decline despite still being significant. The highest recorded value of his investments came in October 2021, peaking at approximately $125.68 million, before gradually dipping through subsequent months. Sarver's holdings illustrate the volatility of stock market investments, serving as a reminder that even experienced executives like him face the ups and downs of the market.

Mar 18, 2025

M

shares

MTH @ $69.86

W

shares

WAL @ $75.06

Total Stock Sold

$99.40M

WAL

$96.72M

2,995,601 WAL shares

MTH

$2.68M

150,362 MTH shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Robert G. Sarver didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra WAL2,995,601 shares worth $116.17M and MTH150,362 shares worth $5.52M.
This is 22.43% and $22.29M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

WAL

186,022 shares

WAL

MTH

13,638 shares

MTH

Recent Charitable Transactions

WAL

10,000 shares

WAL

Nov 6, 2015

Charity

WAL

166,022 shares

WAL

Dec 31, 2015

Charity

WAL

10,000 shares

WAL

Nov 10, 2014

Charity

MTH

6,819 shares

MTH

Apr 29, 2013

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Robert G. Sarver.

WAL

$1.93M

WAL at $77.12/share

Mar 8, 2022

Purchase

WAL

49,854 shares

WAL

Feb 22, 2022

Received

WAL

$5.00M

WAL at $25.00/share

Sep 15, 2021

Purchase

WAL

$3.54M

WAL at $94.77/share

Mar 2, 2021

Sale

WAL

38,462 shares

WAL

Feb 25, 2021

Received

WAL

14,717 shares

WAL

Feb 9, 2021

Received

WAL

61,380 shares

WAL

Mar 2, 2020

Received

WAL

39,738 shares

WAL

Feb 7, 2020

Received

WAL

19,869 shares

WAL

Feb 7, 2020

Received

WAL

$3.43M

WAL at $57.17/share

Jan 28, 2020

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Robert G. Sarver make over time.

In his role as CEO, Robert Sarver was rewarded handsomely for his leadership. In 2017, he received a total compensation package valued at about $5.7 million, which included a base salary of around $1.1 million, significant bonuses linked to company performance averaging 126% to 138% of targets, and vested stock options valued at several million dollars. His compensation strategy focused on aligning his pay with the company's financial success, reflecting his commitment to shareholders. Over the years, Sarver's compensation highlights how executive rewards can vary based on performance, reaching as high as $5.8 million in previous years, emphasizing the dynamic nature of executive pay in relation to company success.

Year

2018

Total Compensation

$4.46M

Salary

$934.62K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to align executive pay with the Company's performance and shareholder value, focusing on both fixed and variable components.

Bonus

$1.29M

Board Justification

The bonus was based on the Company's performance metrics, including earnings per share and net charge-off ratio, achieving a payout of 137.74% of the target.

Other

$100.28K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes insurance premiums and contributions to retirement plans.

Restricted Stock

$2.14M(36K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock that vested in 2018 was based on performance-based stock units and restricted stock awards granted in prior years, with a total value realized of $2,138,760.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics included earnings per share, net charge-off ratio, classified asset ratio, and growth in deposits and loans.

Other Western Alliance Bancorporation CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Western Alliance Bancorporation

Kenneth A. Vecchione

Ex-CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation

April 2018 - December 2024