Starbucks Lifts CEO's Jet-Use Cap Citing Safety Concerns

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Starbucks has removed a $250,000 annual limit on its new CEO Brian Niccol's personal use of the company jet, citing security concerns tied to his high-profile role and what it calls "credible threat actors." An independent security assessment concluded that Niccol should use private aviation for all air travel due to heightened media attention and the broader threat environment.

Why it matters

This decision reflects the increasing security risks faced by high-profile corporate leaders and the measures companies are taking to protect their executives, even if it means providing them with greater access to corporate resources like private jets.

The details

Niccol, who lives in Newport Beach, California, regularly flies nearly 1,000 miles to Starbucks' Seattle headquarters and had previously been required to reimburse the company for personal flights above the $250,000 cap. Starbucks' compensation committee voted in September to swap the cap for a quarterly review of his flights, a move later approved by the board. The same review also recommended a dedicated car and driver in Seattle. In a recent filing, Starbucks said Niccol's personal use of the jet in 2025 tallied up to $997,000, while his security costs totaled $1.1 million.

• Starbucks' compensation committee voted in September to swap the cap for a quarterly review of Niccol's flights.
• Starbucks' board later approved the committee's recommendation.

What’s next

Starbucks will conduct quarterly reviews of Niccol's flights to monitor his use of the company jet.