Fiscal year 2026 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.
Each company listed discloses DRI in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named DRI in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.
| Named executive officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension / NQDC | All other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Cardenas | $1,325,000 | $0 | $25,879,154 | $2,380,093 | $4,107,501 | $0 | $1,124,230 | $34,815,979 |
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| Rajesh Vennam | 815,385 | 0 | 2,403,189 | 671,323 | 1,137,462 | 0 | 435,280 | 5,462,639 |
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
| M. Martin | 811,058 | 0 | 1,310,968 | 366,196 | 1,194,282 | 0 | 416,271 | 4,098,775 |
| Group President | ||||||||
| Todd Burrowes | 811,058 | 0 | 1,310,968 | 366,196 | 1,194,282 | 0 | 410,154 | 4,092,658 |
| Group President and President, Chuy's | ||||||||
| Matthew Broad | 450,000 | 0 | 1,485,540 | 415,008 | 592,875 | 0 | 305,158 | 3,248,581 |
| Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary | ||||||||
| Sarah King | 612,981 | 0 | 1,179,748 | 329,569 | 839,273 | 0 | 279,569 | 3,241,140 |
| Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer | ||||||||
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.
| Named executive officer | FY2026 total | FY2025 total | FY2024 total | Δ FY2025→2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Cardenas | $34,815,979 | $13,995,870 | $12,004,427 | +20,820,109 |
| Rajesh Vennam | 5,462,639 | 4,638,289 | 3,864,631 | +824,350 |
| M. Martin | 4,098,775 | 3,056,055 | — | +1,042,720 |
| Todd Burrowes | 4,092,658 | 3,492,227 | — | +600,431 |
| Matthew Broad | 3,248,581 | — | — | — |
| Sarah King | 3,241,140 | — | — | — |
Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.
No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.
| Executive | Award | Grant date | Threshold | Target | Granted | Maximum | Grant-date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Cardenas | RSU | 2024-07-24 | — | — | 16,119 | — | $2,247,472 |
| Ricardo Cardenas | OPTION | 2024-07-24 | — | — | 48,995 | — | 2,194,486 |
| Named executive officer | Time-vested (RSU) | Performance-vested (PSU) | Options / SARs | % performance-vested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricardo Cardenas | $2,247,472 | $0 | $2,194,486 | 0.0% |
% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.
| Executive | Award | Shares unvested | Exercise price | Market value unvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Martin | Option | 6,799 | 169.02 | — |
| Rajesh Vennam | Option | 9,311 | 208.51 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | Option | 5,079 | 208.51 | — |
| Sarah King | Option | 3,258 | 121.47 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | Option | 5,067 | 121.47 | — |
| Rajesh Vennam | RSU | 10,565 | — | 2,154,309 |
| M. Martin | Option | 7,945 | 139.43 | — |
| Ricardo Cardenas | RSU | 38,662 | — | 7,883,568 |
| Ricardo Cardenas | Option | 18,097 | 121.47 | — |
| Ricardo Cardenas | Option | 48,995 | 139.43 | — |
| Ricardo Cardenas | PSU | 179,413 | — | 36,584,105 |
| Matthew Broad | PSU | 13,017 | — | 2,654,296 |
| Rajesh Vennam | Option | 6,153 | 121.47 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | PSU | 19,206 | — | 3,916,295 |
| M. Martin | PSU | 19,206 | — | 3,916,295 |
| M. Martin | RSU | 6,603 | — | 1,346,418 |
| Rajesh Vennam | Option | 8,612 | 169.02 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | Option | 6,799 | 169.02 | — |
| Ricardo Cardenas | Option | 33,993 | 169.02 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | Option | 7,945 | 139.43 | — |
| Todd Burrowes | RSU | 6,603 | — | 1,346,418 |
| M. Martin | Option | 5,067 | 121.47 | — |
| Sarah King | PSU | 13,819 | — | 2,817,832 |
| M. Martin | Option | 5,079 | 208.51 | — |
| Rajesh Vennam | PSU | 28,416 | — | 5,794,307 |
| Rajesh Vennam | Option | 13,772 | 139.43 | — |
| Sarah King | RSU | 4,981 | — | 1,015,676 |
| Sarah King | Option | 5,826 | 139.43 | — |
| Ricardo Cardenas | Option | 33,011 | 208.51 | — |
| Sarah King | Option | 4,532 | 169.02 | — |
| Sarah King | Option | 4,571 | 208.51 | — |
The purpose of the long-term incentive program is to motivate and reward achievement of our long-term objectives of winning financially and creating long-term value for our shareholders.
| CEO STI target (% of salary) | 200% |
|---|---|
| CEO LTI target (% of salary) | — |
| Independent consultant | Pearl Meyer |
| Clawback policy | True |
| Anti-hedging | true |
| Anti-pledging | true |
| Meeting year | Meeting date | For | Against | Abstain | Support | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025-09-17 | 90,743,641 | 3,663,287 | 437,583 | 96.12% | Passed |
| 2024 | 2024-09-18 | 92,051,437 | 4,670,261 | 168,288 | 95.17% | Passed |
| 2024 | 2024-09-18 | 92,051,437 | 4,670,261 | 168,288 | 95.17% | Passed |
| 2023 | 2023-09-20 | 96,513,092 | 3,447,881 | 396,012 | 96.55% | Passed |
| 2022 | 2022-09-21 | 96,064,614 | 4,138,324 | 203,551 | 95.87% | Passed |
| 2021 | 2021-09-22 | 101,827,175 | 5,850,003 | 225,824 | 94.57% | Passed |
Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year's compensation.
| Meeting year | Meeting date | Approval — company's computation |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025-09-17 | 96.12%a |
| 2024 | 2024-09-18 | 95.17%b |
| 2024 | 2024-09-18 | 95.17%c |
a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes "FOR" or "AGAINST" the proposal.”.
b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes "FOR" or "AGAINST" the proposal.”.
c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes "FOR" or "AGAINST" the proposal.”.
Approval percentages are the company's own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.
| Ratio (CEO : median employee) | 606 : 1 |
|---|---|
| CEO total compensation | $13,995,870 |
| Median employee compensation | $23,074 |
| Director | Cash fees | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | All other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynthia T. JamisonIndependent · Board Chair | $200,000 | $284,998 | $0 | — | $113,596 | $598,594 |
| Charles M. SonstebyIndependent · Audit · Finance · Nominating and Governance | 135,000 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 106,513 | 426,501 |
| Margaret Shân AtkinsIndependent · Audit (Chair) · Nominating and Governance | 145,000 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 86,405 | 416,393 |
| Timothy J. WilmottIndependent · Compensation (Chair) · Finance | 132,500 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 90,920 | 408,408 |
| James P. FogartyIndependent · Finance (Chair) · Nominating and Governance | 125,000 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 47,363 | 357,351 |
| Juliana L. ChuggIndependent · Audit · Nominating and Governance (Chair) | 137,500 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 30,347 | 352,835 |
| William S. SimonIndependent · Audit · Compensation | 130,000 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 6,623 | 321,611 |
| Daryl A. KenninghamIndependent · Audit · Compensation | 130,000 | 184,988 | 0 | — | 3,539 | 318,527 |
| Ricardo CardenasEmployee director | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Annual cash retainer | $100,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual equity retainer | $185,000 |
| Per board meeting fee | — |
| Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov) | 35,000 / 25,000 / 20,000 |
| Stock ownership guideline | 5x annual Board cash retainer ($500,000) |
| Component | FY2026 |
|---|---|
| Cash retainers and fees | $1,135,000 |
| Equity awards (grant-date value) | $1,579,914 |
| All other compensation | $485,306 |
| Total cost of the board | $3,200,220 |
Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.
Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.
| Rank | Company | FY | Chief executive | Salary | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darden Restaurants | 2026 | Ricardo Cardenas | $1,325,000 | $25,879,154 | $2,380,093 | $4,107,501 | $34,815,979 |
Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.
Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.
| # | Supports | Document | Filed | Accession | Location in document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section 01, Ricardo Cardenas | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 34,815,979. Filing ↗machine: r4 · c18 · span 1947073–1947083 |
| 2 | Section 01, Rajesh Vennam | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 5,462,639. Filing ↗machine: r11 · c18 · span 2001059–2001068 |
| 3 | Section 01, M. Martin | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 4,098,775. Filing ↗machine: r25 · c18 · span 2109016–2109025 |
| 4 | Section 01, Todd Burrowes | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 4,092,658. Filing ↗machine: r18 · c18 · span 2055042–2055051 |
| 5 | Section 01, Matthew Broad | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 3,248,581. Filing ↗machine: r39 · c18 · span 2216926–2216935 |
| 6 | Section 01, Sarah King | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 66. As printed: 3,241,140. Filing ↗machine: r32 · c18 · span 2162956–2162965 |
| 7 | Section 03, Ricardo Cardenas RSU | DEF 14A | 2025-08-04 | 0000950170-24-090429 | Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2024” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗ |
| 8 | Section 03, Ricardo Cardenas OPTION | DEF 14A | 2025-08-04 | 0000950170-24-090429 | Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2024” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗ |
| 9 | Section 07, pay ratio | DEF 14A | 2025-08-04 | 0000950170-25-101699 | Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 606 : 1. Filing ↗machine: span 4068419–4068427 |
| 10 | Section 08, Cynthia T. Jamison | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 598,594. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r7 · c27 · span 1181359–1181366 |
| 11 | Section 08, Charles M. Sonsteby | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 426,501. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r10 · c27 · span 1218012–1218019 |
| 12 | Section 08, Margaret Shân Atkins | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 416,393. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r4 · c27 · span 1144705–1144712 |
| 13 | Section 08, Timothy J. Wilmott | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 408,408. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r11 · c27 · span 1230259–1230266 |
| 14 | Section 08, James P. Fogarty | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 357,351. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r6 · c27 · span 1169139–1169146 |
| 15 | Section 08, Juliana L. Chugg | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 352,835. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r5 · c27 · span 1156922–1156929 |
| 16 | Section 08, William S. Simon | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 321,611. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r9 · c27 · span 1205791–1205798 |
| 17 | Section 08, Daryl A. Kenningham | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 318,527. Filing ↗machine: t54 · r8 · c27 · span 1193575–1193582 |
| 18 | Section 08, Ricardo Cardenas | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗ |
| 19 | Section 06, 2025 vote | Form 8-K | 2025-09-19 | 0000940944-25-000048 | Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 96.12% (votes for as printed: 90,743,641). Filing ↗ |
| 20 | Section 06, 2024 vote | Form 8-K | 2024-09-19 | 0000940944-24-000046 | Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 95.17%. Filing ↗ |
| 21 | Section 06, 2024 vote | Form 8-K | 2024-09-19 | 0000940944-24-000046 | Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 95.17%. Filing ↗ |
| 22 | Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed) | Computed | — | computed | Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1) |
| 23 | Section 03b vehicle mix (computed) | Computed | — | computed | RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio |
| 24 | Section 09b board cost (computed) | Computed | — | computed | Cash 1,135,000 + equity 1,579,914 + all other 485,306 = 3,200,220, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 3,200,220 |
| 25 | Darden Restaurants (subject), Section 10b CEO total | DEF 14A | 2026-08-10 | 0001193125-26-342023 | CEO total compensation as printed in Darden Restaurants's own proxy. As printed: 34,815,979. Filing ↗machine: r4 · c18 · span 1947073–1947083 |