CoStar's top five executives received a total compensation in 2014 of over $19 million, an amount equal to 42.8% of the net profits for the entire business.
[{"id": "ctus3rw", "text": "[Look at the insider roster](http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=CSGP+Major+Holders). It's also primarily stock incentives. Why should this be a surprise (as much as it sucks for CSGP employees).", "replies": [{"id": "ctv5odi", "text": "Shouldn't be, the people who close the most deals get paid the most money don't they? ", "replies": [{"id": "ctwx6bd", "text": "Close the most deals? CoStar is a data company...", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "cvmizzj", "text": "i work for costar, they have a great stock purchase plan where you can put btw 0-15% of your paycheck towards costar stock purchased at a 10% discount. I've been enrolled at 9% since i started and have almost $2,000 in unrealized gains after two years as the company's stock has risen. Andy Florance (the CEO) is honestly a genius, and has made brilliant decision after brilliant decision throughout the company's history. It's hard to articulate just how smart the guy is, but his continued tenure is probably worth $19 million alone. He has WAY more than enough money to retire to a life of luxury and leisure, and his current pay is more than substantiated to encourage him to continue to build the company that he started in college. Long live CoStar and Andy Florance, fuck REIS Axiometrics and Zillow/Trulia (Joke companies)", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cu7gdfl", "text": "And......that's why I don't take their calls.  ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cu7tdtt", "text": "I signed up for their service last year.  What a waste of money.  Outdated information, service reps who made promise after promise and never delivered. Even though they now own loopnet, loopnet basic service is much better.  Let's see how long it takes them to screw up loopnet.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cubq293", "text": "That is a bit of a misguided analysis, they are comparing a pretax SGA line item to an after depreciation, after tax net income number. The executives aren't taking that $45,000,000 and saying hey lets pay me.\n\nAs a % of COGS and SGA their salaries are ~9%, as mentioned before there is a lot of stock incentive given. Whether you think thats still too much is up to you to decide.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]