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GoPro founder Nick Woodman named highest-paid CEO in U.S.

By Amy R. Connolly
Nick Woodman, founder of GoPro. Photo by TechCrunch/CC
Nick Woodman, founder of GoPro. Photo by TechCrunch/CC

NEW YORK, April 18 (UPI) -- Surfer turned GoPro founder Nick Woodman was named the highest paid CEO in the United States after the company went public in 2014.

The 39-year-old was granted 4.5 million restricted stock units valued at an eye-popping $284.5 million at the end of 2014. That pushes him into the top spot on Bloomberg's Pay Index, a ranking of the 100 highest-paid executives based on compensation

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"Nick Woodman is a special entrepreneur and is instrumental to the company's success both through his vision and leadership," said Alex Gauna, an analyst at JMP Securities LLC who recommends investors buy GoPro shares. His compensation "is appropriate relative to what he means to this company," he said.

Woodman got the inspiration for GoPro in 2004 after strapping a high-definition camera to his hand on a surfing trip. He brought the company to Wall Street in June with an attractive initial public offering. The company raised about $425 million and initially valued shares at $24, but started trading much higher.

With his compensation, he edges out Cheniere Energy's Charif Souki from the top seat by some $3 million. In 2014, the energy company cut Souki's pay.

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