Evan Clark

Mon, Jun 23, 2025, 10:10 AM3 min read

The march higher at Ralph Lauren Corp. — which has seen the company steadily elevate its brand and sharpen operations — is paying off for the C-suite.

Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer, saw his total pay rise 22.6 percent to $24.2 million last year. That included incentive pay of $11.2 million, stock awards valued at $11 million and a salary of $1.8 million, according to the company’s proxy statement.

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Patrice Louvet, president and chief executive officer, also saw a pay boost, with his compensation increasing 38.8 percent to $23.1 million. The CEO’s take included stock awards valued at $13.5 million, incentive pay of $8.1 million and a salary of $1.4 million.

Stock awards are a standard feature of executive pay, tying the compensation packages to the fortunes of other shareholders as they only pay off if the company performs in the market.

The proxy statement is filed with regulators and sets up the company’s annual meeting on July 31. The schedule for the virtual meeting shows it should be a relatively routine affair.

But Lauren and Louvet did start to hype the company’s progress in a letter to shareholders included with the proxy.

“As we completed the third and final year of our ‘Next Great Chapter: Accelerate’ strategic plan, Ralph Lauren delivered on all key commitments and is in a position of strength — consumers across generations and cultures are connecting deeply with our iconic brand, timeless products and elevated experiences around the world,” the executive pair said. “Our progress is rooted in our purpose — to inspire the dream of a better life through authenticity and timeless style — which guides our teams every day…

“In a complex global operating environment, we are in a position of strength,” they said. “We have proven resilience in our business model and remain focused on the opportunities across our brands, categories, channels and geographies to deliver long-term growth and value creation for the years to come.”

Shares of the company rose 16.8 percent during its fiscal year ended March 31, and are up nearly another 20 percent since then, leaving it with a market capitalization of roughly $16 billion — one of the best valuations in the American fashion industry.

Ralph Lauren also laid out some changes in the boardroom going forward.