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EA cuts Probst's salary to $515,000

Electronic Arts halves compensation for executive chairman Larry Probst from $1.03 million following appointment of Andrew Wilson to CEO.

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Electronic Arts has cut executive chairman Larry Probst's annual salary from $1.03 million to $515,000 effective October 1. The reduction in pay was a result of the recent appointment of Andrew Wilson to CEO, EA said in a federal government filing this week.

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Though EA has cut Probst's salary in half, the board of directors continues to have the option to award Probst a one-time discretionary bonus with the amount to be determined by the board at the end of his tenure.

As part of the new arrangement, Probst will not receive further cash retainer fees for his role on the EA board of directors while performing duties in the role of executive chairman.

Probst was appointed to the position of EA executive chairman in March 2013 as part of John Riccitiello's departure from the company as its top executive. His $1.03 million compensation package was announced in the weeks after.

Probst has been in a leadership position at EA since 1991 and was CEO from 1991 to 2007. He is also the current executive chairman of the United States Olympic Committee and serves on the International Olympic Committee's International Relations Commission. Past positions include national sales manager at Activision and national accounts manager at Clorox.

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jcknapier711

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After taxes, he probably makes about the same amount of money.

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quakke

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Haha, that's quite a drop.

Just one question though. Why the F does this guy even have to have that ridiciolous salary? It's stuff like that that have created call of battlefields and whatever simcity rapings.

Videogames shouldn't be made just for money. They should be made like in the 90's. To show one's abilities with stuff, to invent new things, make good and challenging games. CoD of battlefields and Wannabe Needforspeeds are shit. NFS3 is what Need For Speed is all about as is FPS-wise DooM1 and Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior 2013.

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kiraniata

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Gosh earning just over half a million, what ever will he do! We will see him having to use public transport with all the peasants to get to work soon!

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pip3dream

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In all seroiusness, that is quite a pay cut.

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grosgrostas

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And this is in part why gaming company's spend so much money trying to f*** us over with DRM and in game Ad's , online only etc..

All these old geezers whom are not game related architects but business man share holders who rack in huge Million dollars bonuses which they vote them self's to each other

Old none gamers should not be in that business they dont get it and dont care



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Avatar image for Eraldus
Eraldus

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Poor guy... I hope that he can get over it and doesn't commit suicide

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AzatiS

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Edited By AzatiS

Oh damn , only 515.000$ !! Now he wont have to eat! Poor guy!

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Eagllefirestorm

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@AzatiS I know and thats before Tax.

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Lawrencevanrijn

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Wow! i could pay my bar bill and still have money for a taxi! What a luxury!

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OldKye

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@Lawrencevanrijn If your tab at the bar is up to $514,960 then you sir are both a pro and a alcoholic.

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Lawrencevanrijn

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@OldKye @Lawrencevanrijn What? No tips? I have no alcohol issue (love it more and more each day) :-P

2 • 
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deactivated-602c3bd57b914

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Looks like little Timmy is only getting one private island this Christmas...

5 • 
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wizardboyus

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Edited By wizardboyus

oh poor baby, maybe he should go back to Clorox and wash his dirty diapers

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Yatsukii

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Oh no, this is such a tragedy, how ever will he be able to support his family with only a salary of $515,000.......................

3 • 
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Brakkyn

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...and yet, if anyone in the comments section were in his position...ah, nevermind.

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Neogenic

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Edited By Neogenic

So this means that he could potentially buy 1032 Xbox Ones or 1290 Playstation 4's this year.

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Stefarooh31

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Edited By Stefarooh31

blah blah fishpaste - who the **** really actually cares!

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DigiTMPS3

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Meanwhile there are people starving.

9 • 
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spikepigeo

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Another bait article from Eddie.

This does nothing except sow the seeds for comments like "OMG he's so poor! *sarcasm* lulz" and "Greedy bastard!!!1 TAKE ALL HIS MONEYZ!!!111one".

GAMING news, Eddie. THAT is your job. Not business news.

Oh wait. Silly me, haha. That's not his job. His job is to get views. Well done. Continue.

3 • 
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tightwad34

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It also looks like all the past jobs he had would be high paying also. So I am willing to bet he has a lot saved up, or at least a lot more than I do. Still, I would be very happy to make a tenth of what he is making now.

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nate1222

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Edited By nate1222

Most people will never make that much in their life. Yet, among corporate big-wigs, it's considered a 'loss'.

I'm going to go vomit now.

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OldKye

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@nate1222 Save room in the bucket some of us can't afford to buy a new one.

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soulless4now

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Edited By soulless4now

Still way more than us normal folk.

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Elann2008

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Take off another 500k for ruining great franchises and IPs. All they have is DICE.. to save their sorry asses.

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pwc2

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Edited By pwc2

On a serious note, why are athletes and/or coaches, Movie stars, and even congress allowed to get this kind of pay, Many of these are scumbags too, if not more so. It's like it's okay for them, but not for businesses. That's not right!

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Sardinar

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Edited By Sardinar

POOR THING T_T

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Nergathh

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Edited By Nergathh

Man that gotta hurt!

How will he pay for his expensive cars and his mansion. Im sure he contributes so fucking much to the decision of gaming within EA.

*sarcasm*

Im sure he has other skills like how to run a company but he shouldn't be paid that much....

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godzilla_hiper

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Edited By godzilla_hiper

Poor fella! How is he going to survive? Damn these corporations!

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straightcur

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and still over paid!

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Geminon

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am..... am i supposed to feel sorry for this guy?

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wizardboyus

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Edited By wizardboyus

@Geminon i know right? i think they're tryin to get us all riled up for views XD

it worked gj GS!

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ZeroFallout1

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For just dollars a day you can help these poor CEO. Just look at this guy with half his severance pay. He no longer can afford his 3rd Ferrari and second Yacht. Help them live the life they deserve.

13 • 
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pwc2

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@ZeroFallout1 LOL, NICE!

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SavoyPrime

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Edited By SavoyPrime

He still makes about 14 times what I make. XD

2 • 
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GSGuy321

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(In Christian Bale voice)............ Ohhhhhh Good for Youuuuuu !

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Senor_Kami

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No matter how much I made, if I get a 50% paycut I'm looking for a new job.

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Voice_of_Wisdom

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I would work in EA for as little as half this money

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franky111

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Edited By franky111

Don't worry Probst, I'm sure all of that on-disc DLC will pick up the slack for you.

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Kerrizma

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Now I know why DLC is 15$...

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Pyerun

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Guess I'll be seeing him at the food bank.

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SultaN-s

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the poor guy :(

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TirOrah

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Edited By TirOrah

This is why my parents sometimes (and jokingly) tell me to work in the game industry or make a CoD. Lol. I mean, look at those figures! Alms for a poor gamer~

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Dirk_McHardpeck

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Awwwww....the poor thing. How ever will he feed and clothe himself in such abject poverty.

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sephsplace

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Edited By sephsplace

only $515,000!!! poor bastard!, i better donate to him, don't wanna see him starve!

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lmlf

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Edited By lmlf

EA it´s raising price of games because millionaire pay rolls like this!!! i HOPE YOU GO BANKRUPT EA

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Trender_man

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first world problems

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jer_1

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@Trender_man Really wish I had this "problem".

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elburnso

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Came here for all the sarcastic comments, poor Probst and his half-million dollar annual salary; he might have to get a second job and get a smaller mansion.

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Mr_Big_Boss

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I'd be happy if I could just earn 10% of that annually.

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