ICANN’s latest tax return discloses that it paid 197 employees and contractors at least $100,000.
ICANN has posted its latest tax return (pdf), which covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. It’s that time of year when you get to see how much your favorite ICANN staffers get paid.
The compensation data is for the calendar year 2018, so it’s a bit dated.
The highest-paid employee was CEO Goran Marby, whose total comp was $865,570. This includes retirement benefits and nontaxable benefits. (You can see the breakdown of actual cash compensation for employees starting on page 53 of the return).
Former President of GDD Akram Atallah had total comp of $686,263 through November of 2018 when he left to join Donuts.
General Counsel John Jeffrey was next highest at $648,985.
I count 15 people with $400,000 or more of total comp and benefits and 8 with $500,000 or more.
The non-profit paid 197 contractors and employees at least $100,000 during 2018.
ICANN paid the law firm Jones Day was $7.6 million. That’s up from $5.4 million the prior year.
DomainBoss says
Why would a non-profit pay people hundreds of thousands in salaries is beyond my understanding.
This whole ICANN non-profit disguise is just to make people fool.
John says
The law firm Jones Day is a huge benefactor of ICANN. How many millions and millions has Jones Day been paid over the past 10 years???
Working hard to protect the monopolies that run the DNS.
John says
$161 million in revenue.
But $73 million in salaries?
And $7.6 million paid to Jones Day.
Ridiculous how much in legal fees..
What are these lawyers working on????
Kimberly says
Just goes to show you how much the NEEDED $20 million quid-pro-quo kickback by Verisign really helped an organization that was in DIRE need of increasing it’s funds.
Sounds to me like those $20 million in funds get earmarked for security and stability, but other funds just pay these fat pigs at ICANN. What an atrocious mess. I’m sick to my stomach of #CorruptICANN
Why could ICANN not just compensate it’s fat pigs just a little less and use that money for increasing the security and stability of the Internet.
Sounds like ICANN is just a means to increase the pockets of those in the deep state of the organization. Therefore it does whatever it wants to make these beneficiaries more money. Not a honest or reputable organization by any means whatsoever.
James says
Anyone remember if ICANN has ever put its Legal Services contract out for bid? There could be other, equally-capable firms able to provide Legal advice for less. For example, during the 2014-2016 IANA transition, we engaged Sidley & Austin, and they were excellent.
Even if Jones Day is retained, a regular re-bid of the contract could yield savings.
Mindy says
It is a great idea James. Unfortunately ICANN operates in the manner of all contracts are permanent and forever. Rebidding a contract is not a known concept to ICANN. It just makes no financial sense to put common sense to use. It is far too much effort for the measly 600 g’s people are barely making and barely getting by with.
What is the incentive, when it’s easier to just grant monopolies more and more money for free, and to negotiate kickbacks off of it instead?