Leidos Holdings is one of the largest defense and IT services companies in the United States. With $16.7 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees worldwide, it plays a critical role in defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets.
So how much does the CEO of Leidos actually earn?
In this detailed guide, we break down Thomas A. Bell’s full compensation package, his career background, how his pay compares to other defense industry CEOs, and how Leidos determines executive compensation.
Quick Answer: Leidos CEO Salary Summary
- CEO: Thomas A. (Tom) Bell
- Title: Chief Executive Officer, Leidos Holdings Inc.
- Base Salary: $1.25 million per year
- Total Compensation (2024): ~$12.46 million
- Total Compensation (2023): ~$9.19 million
- Appointed CEO: May 2023
- Company Revenue (FY 2024): $16.7 billion
Who Is Thomas A. Bell? Leidos CEO Background
Thomas A. Bell, commonly known as Tom Bell, became the Chief Executive Officer of Leidos in May 2023. He brought nearly 40 years of leadership experience from some of the most prominent aerospace and defense organizations in the world.
Career Before Leidos
Bell’s career spans multiple iconic companies in the defense and aerospace sector.
He started his career at Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin), where he worked in human spaceflight programs. This early experience gave him deep technical knowledge of complex government contracts and space systems.
He then joined McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), where he held a wide range of roles including:
- Manufacturing engineering
- Contracts and pricing
- Sales and marketing
- Program management
At Boeing, Bell rose to become Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Boeing Defense, Space and Security. In this role, he secured major contract wins across aircraft, rotorcraft, services, space, missile systems, and satellites.
He also served as the strategy lead for Boeing Defense and Space, overseeing research and development prioritization, merger and acquisition strategy, and market analysis. During his time at Boeing, he lived and worked in Helsinki and served as president of U.K. operations.
Leadership at Rolls-Royce
Before joining Leidos, Bell served as President of Rolls-Royce Defense, leading a global team of 10,000 professionals. His team provided power, propulsion, and service solutions for aerospace, naval, and nuclear submarine applications to customers in more than 100 countries.
He was also Chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America Inc., overseeing all North American business operations, employees, facilities, and customers.
Education
Bell earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the Florida Institute of Technology. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Aerospace Industries Association.
Leidos CEO Salary: Full Compensation Breakdown
Now let’s dive into the numbers everyone is searching for.
All executive compensation data for Leidos comes from SEC proxy statement filings and public compensation databases. As a publicly traded company (NYSE: LDOS), Leidos is required to disclose detailed executive pay information annually.
Base Salary
Tom Bell receives a base salary of $1.25 million per year. This was established when he was appointed CEO in May 2023 and has remained consistent.
Target Annual Bonus
Bell’s target annual bonus is set at 150% of his base salary. This means his target bonus is approximately $1.875 million per year, though the actual payout can be higher or lower depending on company performance.
Total Compensation (2024)
For fiscal year 2024, Tom Bell’s total compensation was approximately $12.46 million. This includes his base salary, stock awards, option awards, bonuses, and other incentive compensation.
Total Compensation (2023)
In his first year as CEO (2023), Bell earned a total compensation of approximately $9.19 million. The lower figure compared to 2024 reflects a partial year in the CEO role and the initial ramp-up of his equity-based compensation.
Leidos CEO Salary Table (2023–2024)
Here is a detailed breakdown of Tom Bell’s compensation components:
| Compensation Component | 2024 (Approx.) | 2023 (Approx.) |
| Base Salary | $1,306,539 | $1,250,000 |
| Stock Awards | ~$5,500,000+ | ~$4,000,000+ |
| Option Awards | $1,340,020 | ~$1,200,000+ |
| Non-Equity Incentive (Bonus) | $3,696,660 | ~$2,200,000+ |
| Other Compensation | ~$600,000+ | ~$500,000+ |
| Total Compensation | ~$12,460,240 | ~$9,190,000 |
Sources: Salary.com Executive Compensation Database , SEC Proxy Filing
Other Top Executives at Leidos (2024)
| Executive | Title | Total Compensation (Approx.) |
| Thomas A. Bell | CEO | $12,460,240 |
| Christopher R. Cage | CFO | ~$4,500,000+ |
| Elizabeth A. Buse | Group President | ~$4,200,000+ |
| Vicki Schmanske | Group President | ~$4,000,000+ |
Source: SEC Proxy Statement 2025
How Is Leidos CEO Pay Determined?
Leidos uses a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. The company’s Board of Directors, through its Human Resources and Compensation Committee, designs executive pay packages to align with shareholder interests.
Key Principles
The 2024 compensation program at Leidos is built around several core principles:
- Performance alignment — A significant portion of total pay is tied to measurable financial and operational targets
- Shareholder value creation — Equity-based compensation ensures the CEO’s interests align with stockholders
- Market competitiveness — Pay is benchmarked against peer companies in the defense and IT services industry
- Retention — Long-term incentives are designed to retain top leadership talent
Compensation Mix
The majority of Bell’s compensation is performance-based and at-risk, not guaranteed.
Only about 10% of his total pay comes from base salary. The remaining 90% is tied to stock performance, company financial results, and achievement of strategic objectives.
This structure means that if Leidos underperforms, Bell’s actual compensation could be significantly lower than the target amount.
Leidos Company Performance Under Tom Bell
Understanding CEO pay also requires looking at how the company is performing under his leadership.
Fiscal Year 2024 Highlights
According to Leidos’ official earnings report:
- Annual Revenue: $16.7 billion (up 8% year-over-year)
- Q4 Revenue: $4.4 billion (up 10% year-over-year)
- Diluted EPS (Q4): $2.12
- Employees: ~47,000 worldwide
- Backlog: Strong pipeline across defense, intelligence, and health markets
The company posted strong growth across all major segments, reflecting Bell’s strategic focus on healthy growth while advancing the company’s overall strategy.
Stock Performance
Leidos stock (NYSE: LDOS) has performed well since Bell took over as CEO. The company’s consistent revenue growth and strong contract wins have contributed to positive shareholder returns.
How Does Leidos CEO Salary Compare to Other Defense CEOs?
To put Tom Bell’s compensation in perspective, here’s how it compares to CEOs of other major defense and technology companies:
| CEO | Company | Total Compensation (Approx.) |
| Thomas A. Bell | Leidos | $12.46 million |
| James Taiclet | Lockheed Martin | ~$29 million |
| Kathy Warden | Northrop Grumman | ~$23 million |
| Greg Hayes | RTX Corporation | ~$22 million |
| Phebe Novakovic | General Dynamics | ~$22 million |
Bell’s compensation is lower than most major defense prime contractor CEOs. However, Leidos is primarily an IT services and solutions company, which typically commands different pay scales than hardware-focused defense manufacturers.
For more defense and tech CEO salary comparisons, check out our posts on Lockheed Martin CEO salary, Northrop Grumman CEO salary, and RTX CEO salary.
Leidos at a Glance
Here’s a quick overview of the company Tom Bell leads:
| Detail | Information |
| Company Name | Leidos Holdings, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Reston, Virginia, USA |
| Founded | 1969 (as Science Applications International Corporation) |
| CEO | Thomas A. Bell (since May 2023) |
| Employees | ~47,000 worldwide |
| Annual Revenue (FY 2024) | $16.7 billion |
| Stock Ticker | NYSE: LDOS |
| Key Markets | Defense, Intelligence, Homeland Security, Civil, Health |
Source: Leidos Official Website , Leidos Earnings Report
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Leidos CEO make?
Thomas A. Bell, the CEO of Leidos, earned a total compensation of approximately $12.46 million in fiscal year 2024. His base salary is $1.25 million per year, with the rest coming from stock awards, options, bonuses, and incentives.
When did Tom Bell become CEO of Leidos?
Tom Bell was appointed CEO of Leidos in May 2023. He succeeded Roger Krone, who retired from the position.
What was Tom Bell’s salary in 2023?
In his first year as CEO, Bell’s total compensation was approximately $9.19 million for fiscal year 2023.
Is Leidos CEO pay performance-based?
Yes. Approximately 90% of Tom Bell’s total compensation is performance-based and tied to company stock performance, financial results, and strategic goals. Only about 10% comes from his guaranteed base salary.
How big is Leidos?
Leidos is a Fortune 500 company with $16.7 billion in annual revenue and approximately 47,000 employees operating across defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets worldwide.
Key Takeaways
Here are the most important points from this post:
- Thomas A. Bell has served as CEO of Leidos since May 2023, bringing nearly 40 years of aerospace and defense leadership experience.
- His base salary is $1.25 million per year, with a target bonus of 150% of base salary.
- Bell’s total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was approximately $12.46 million, up significantly from $9.19 million in 2023.
- Approximately 90% of his pay is performance-based, tied to stock awards, options, and company performance metrics.
- Under Bell’s leadership, Leidos achieved $16.7 billion in revenue for FY 2024, representing 8% year-over-year growth.
- His compensation is lower than most major defense prime contractor CEOs like those at Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX.
- Leidos uses a pay-for-performance philosophy overseen by its Board’s Human Resources and Compensation Committee.
Conclusion
If you searched for “Leidos CEO salary,” the answer is well-documented in public SEC filings.
Tom Bell earned approximately $12.46 million in total compensation for fiscal year 2024. His base salary of $1.25 million makes up only a small fraction of his total pay. The vast majority is tied to Leidos’ stock performance and financial results.
Bell’s compensation reflects the scale and complexity of leading a $16.7 billion global defense and IT services company with 47,000 employees. Under his leadership, Leidos has delivered strong revenue growth and maintained its position as a leader across defense, intelligence, and health markets.
For more CEO salary breakdowns in the defense sector, explore our posts on General Dynamics CEO salary and HP CEO salary.