Scott W. Wagner served as the CEO of GoDaddy from January 2018 until September 2019. He has a strong background in business, having graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Economics from Yale and later earning an M.B.A. from...

Scott W. Wagner served as the CEO of GoDaddy from January 2018 until September 2019. He has a strong background in business, having graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Economics from Yale and later earning an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Before becoming CEO, he held several key roles at GoDaddy, including Chief Operating Officer, President, and Chief Financial Officer. Under his leadership, GoDaddy focused on performance metrics like bookings and free cash flow to boost company growth. Interestingly, in 2019, his total compensation reached $17 million, which reflects his performance-based pay structure. An interesting fact is that Wagner made substantial stock trades during his tenure, with holdings fluctuating significantly, peaking at over $18 million, showcasing confidence in the company's direction. His experience at GoDaddy and previous roles consulting for KKR Capstone provided him with unique insights into the tech industry and strategic decision-making. He stepped down due to health reasons, which highlights the importance of well-being in leadership roles.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other GoDaddy CEOs

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Scott W. Wagner

Ex-CEO of GoDaddy

Education

B.A. degree in Economics, magna cum laude, from Yale University and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

May 28, 1971 - 54 years ago

CEO of GoDaddy for

1 year 8 months (Jan 2018 - Sep 2019)

Previous Experience

Chief Operating Officer and President at GoDaddy, Chief Financial Officer at GoDaddy.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Scott W. Wagner

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Todd Nightingale

CEO of Fastly

2023 Compensation

Stock

$8.99M

Salary

$600.00K

Bonus

$600.00K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$11.52M

Holdings

See how much did Scott W. Wagner make over time.

During Scott W. Wagner's tenure as CEO of GoDaddy, his holdings had noticeable fluctuations over time. In September 2019, his holdings were valued at approximately $14.58 million. This value periodically changed, reaching as high as $18.56 million in December 2020...

During Scott W. Wagner's tenure as CEO of GoDaddy, his holdings had noticeable fluctuations over time. In September 2019, his holdings were valued at approximately $14.58 million. This value periodically changed, reaching as high as $18.56 million in December 2020 and surging above $26 million by early 2024. This growth in value displays his strategic management of shares, aligning with his confidence in the company's future. Major declines, such as dropping to around $12.46 million in March 2020, illustrate market volatility. Nonetheless, as he navigated through his time with GoDaddy, he maintained significant wealth tied to the company's stock, indicating a strong belief in its potential.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

BILL @ $46.94

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shares

GDDY @ $178.25

Total Stock Sold

$32.48M

GDDY

$32.48M

598,655 GDDY shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Scott W. Wagner didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra GDDY598,655 shares worth $47.38M.
This is 45.85% and $14.89M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Scott W. Wagner.

BILL

$507.50K

BILL at $58.00/share

Nov 14, 2023

Purchase

GDDY

$533.14K

GDDY at $70.10/share

Jul 2, 2019

Sale

GDDY

$2.73M

GDDY at $73.87/share

May 20, 2019

Sale

GDDY

$573.10K

GDDY at $75.36/share

Apr 2, 2019

Sale

GDDY

$2.29M

GDDY at $75.14/share

Feb 25, 2019

Sale

GDDY

108,440 shares

GDDY

Feb 25, 2019

Received

GDDY

$2.78M

GDDY at $75.19/share

Feb 22, 2019

Sale

GDDY

$1.74M

GDDY at $60.69/share

Jan 3, 2019

Sale

GDDY

$8.84M

GDDY at $70.73/share

May 23, 2018

Sale

GDDY

181,734 shares

GDDY

Jan 2, 2018

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Scott W. Wagner make over time.

Scott W. Wagner's total compensation package at GoDaddy varied greatly during his service as CEO. In 2019, he earned about $17 million, which was a mix of salary, bonuses, and vested stock options. His base salary was $1 million, but the real kicker was a performance-based bonus that could match that salary. Stock awards were also significant, with amounts that varied based on performance measures like bookings and cash flow. Notably, in 2018, his compensation dropped to just $750,000 due to his lack of bonuses, showing how performance can directly affect pay in such high-stakes roles. This model aligns Wagner's interests closely with those of GoDaddy's shareholders, driving results and growth.

Year

2019

Total Compensation

$8.34M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy for Scott W. Wagner aligns with company performance, peer benchmarking, and retention strategies, focusing on long-term value creation for shareholders.

Bonus

$1.00M

Board Justification

The cash bonus paid to Scott W. Wagner for 2019 was based on performance metrics including bookings and unlevered free cash flow, with a target bonus opportunity of 100% of his base salary.

Other

$7.50K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes 401(k) company matching contributions and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$6.33M(6.33M RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested in 2019 were based on performance-based RSUs and time-based RSUs, which are subject to continued service and performance metrics.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for determining compensation included achieving specific bookings and unlevered free cash flow targets.

Other GoDaddy CEOs

Here are other CEOs of GoDaddy

Blake J. Irving

Ex-CEO of GoDaddy

January 2013 - December 2017

Aman Bhutani

CEO of GoDaddy

September 2019 - Present