The 3 highest-paid timeshare CEOs in 2023, bankrolled by members’ fees

Timeshare CEOs’ ‘obscene’ wages questioned as member costs continue to rise in 2024.

Timeshare ownership is widely acknowledged by financial commentators as an overpriced and often restrictive way to holiday. With even entry-level ownerships now costing over $24,000 and average annual maintenance fees of around $1,200 a year, members may reasonably ask how their hard-earned money is being spent by the resorts.

If you own a timeshare, you may be interested in how much the biggest operators paid their CEOs for the 2023 financial year.

Are timeshare CEOs ‘overpaid’?

The three leading timeshare companies by net income in 2023 were:

1. Travel + Leisure Co ($396 million)
2. Hilton Grand Vacations ($313 million)
3. Marriott Vacations ($253 million)

Marriott Vacations, third on the list, endured a difficult year, with its share price dropping by 38%. Contract sales underperformed against projections, and occupancy at its Hawaiian properties fell sharply following the devastating wildfires on Maui.

Even with that downturn, Marriott Vacations CEO John Geller Jr still took home $1.1 million—almost 19 times the average US salary. Around 63% of Geller’s pay is linked to share performance, and in previous years he has earned far more. In 2021, for example, he received $17.4 million following the company’s post-pandemic recovery.

Hilton Grand Vacations paid the second-highest amount. CEO Mark Wang—who joined Hilton 25 years ago and worked his way up to the top role at the Orlando-based global timeshare group—received $6.7 million, equivalent to 113 average US salaries.

The highest earner in 2023 was Travel + Leisure Co’s Michael Brown. Brown received $8.4 million, the most of any timeshare CEO according to proxy statements filed in March 2024. His net pay alone would have covered 148 salaries for typical median-income workers.

Travel + Leisure Co owns major brands including Margaritaville Vacation Club, Shell Vacations Club and Wyndham Destinations, and is the world’s largest timeshare operator.

Expert comment

“Many people struggling to pay inflated annual timeshare fees might be disappointed to see where that money is going,” notes Greg Wilson, a timeshare expert with European Consumer Claims (ECC).

“In the post-COVID landscape—with the global cost of living crisis and associated runaway inflation—money is tight for huge sections of society. To see timeshare fat cats being paid literally millions of dollars a year while customers are being told to fork out for maintenance hikes that even outstrip inflation is a kick in the teeth. Remember these are net annual take-home payments, after deductions!”

“Timeshare companies claim to sell luxury, but they sell it to people on ordinary wages. During challenging economic times, these companies should be looking at ways to cut costs without lowering standards. Instead, they are remunerating executives with multiple millions of dollars per year.

“In my personal opinion, these kinds of excesses are unconscionable.”

Fed up with your timeshare?

If you feel your timeshare no longer offers value for the money you’re paying and you want to explore options for relinquishing the contract, get in touch with our team at the Timeshare Advice Centre.

If you were mis-sold your membership, you may even be entitled to significant financial compensation.