Why corporate boards no longer view CEO security as just a perk

Protecting a CEO is no longer a gift the board gives to top executives, along with a country club membership and access to a private plane. These days, top-flight security has become a requirement, according to Conference Board CEO Steve Odland.

"It is a real issue. You know, a few years ago, you would have security under the title of a perk," Odland said on Yahoo Finance's Sozzi Unleashed . "They are no longer perks when CEOs are getting shot in the back. It is a requirement in order to do the job."

Fresh data from the Conference Board underscores the trend:

34% of S&P 500 CEOs now report having personal and home security, up from 18% in 2024.

11% of Russell 3000 CEOs report having security, up from 5% in 2024.

Among Russell 3000 companies with at least $50 billion in annual revenue, 60% of CEOs now receive personal and home security benefits.

The pickup in spending reflects the unfortunate new reality.

In December 2024, UnitedHealthcare ( UNH ) CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel in a targeted attack prior to the company's annual investor conference.

The suspect, Luigi Mangione, was apprehended days later at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania carrying a 3D-printed ghost gun, a silencer, and a handwritten manifesto expressing hostility toward the US healthcare industry.

The high-profile assassination sent shockwaves through corporate executive security teams and boards.

"When you have your children threatened, you need security," Odland said. "You need to be taken care of. You can't walk through airports. And these aren't perks. This is part of protecting your assets of the firm. And more boards are stepping up to say, 'OK, we realize that we've got to do this.' And so it gets imputed in pay."

Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor, host of the Sozzi Unleashed morning show and the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast, and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.