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Starbucks Drops Cap, Requires CEO to Use Company Jet After Security Review

An independent security review citing credible threats prompted a board mandate for corporate-jet travel with quarterly oversight.

Brian Nicco — Niccol, a career fast-food executive who first made a name for himself at Taco Bell, was tapped in August to run Starbucks, exiting Chipotle where he was chief executive for six years. Niccol made waves when he relocated Chipotle’s headquarters from Denver to Newport Beach, where he lives with his family. When he got the Starbucks nod, the company said Niccol could work remotely, when appropriate. Since taking the CEO post at Starbucks, Niccol said he wants to take the chain back to its cafe roots. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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Starbucks is encouraging its CEO, Brian Niccol, to use the company jet for all his personal travel.

Overview

  • After September 2025, the board removed the $250,000 annual limit on Brian Niccol’s personal flights and directed him to use company aircraft for all travel, including personal trips.
  • No new maximum spending limit was set, and the chair of the Compensation Committee will review Niccol’s personal flights quarterly, with reimbursement possible if the board deems it appropriate.
  • Starbucks reported about $1.1 million in security-related costs for Niccol in fiscal 2025, including just under $1 million tied to jet use, plus a personal driver and more than $370,000 in temporary housing.
  • Niccol’s total 2025 compensation was roughly $31 million, including a $5 million bonus and nearly $20 million in stock awards, down from about $96 million in 2024 driven by a large onboarding stock grant.
  • The policy shift aligns with a broader corporate move to tighten executive protection following high-profile attacks, and it was disclosed as investors await Starbucks’ quarterly results this week.