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Gaming & Lodging

Darden Restaurants Executive Compensation (FY26)

DRI · Orlando, FL · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2026
Chief executive, fiscal 2026
◇
Ricardo Cardenas
Median of the other named officers
$4,092,658
5 officers, excluding the chief executive
Latest say-on-pay support
=
September 17, 2025
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Data as of November 1, 2026Latest filing (DEF 14A): August 10, 2026
15 filings cited on this page
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Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
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382 figures on this page: 372 cited to the filing that reported them, 10 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations

More on Darden Restaurants

Five data products on this company. Each one is requested through the developer setup page.
What changed from fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2026
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — Ricardo Cardenas: $13,995,870 → $34,815,979 (148.8% higher)
Say-on-pay support: 95.2% → 96.1% (0.9 points higher)

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Darden Restaurants' chief executive and what were they paid?
Total compensation for Ricardo Cardenas, President and Chief Executive Officer, came to $34,815,979 in fiscal 2026. Compared with the $13,995,870 reported for fiscal 2025, Cardenas' total was 148.8% higher.
What was Darden Restaurants' say-on-pay result?
Shareholders supported the say-on-pay proposal with 96.1% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held September 17, 2025 for fiscal 2025.
Which companies are in Darden Restaurants' peer group?
The disclosed peer group includes Advance Auto Parts, Inc., Aramark Corporation, AutoZone, Inc., Bath & Body Works, Inc. and Burlington Stores, Inc., among others.

Executive compensation

Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Eugene Lee
Executive Chairman of the Board and our previous Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Departed during or after this year
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
M. John Martin
President, Specialty Restaurant Group
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Todd Burrowes
Executive Vice President, President - Olive Garden
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2023
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO
◇—◇◇◇—◇— not reconciled
Daniel Kiernan
President, Olive Garden
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
M. John Martin
President, Specialty Restaurant Group
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Todd Burrowes
President, LongHorn Steakhouse
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2024
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Todd Burrowes
President, Business Development
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Daniel Kiernan
President, Olive Garden
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Matthew Broad
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2025
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Daniel Kiernan
President, Olive Garden
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Todd Burrowes
President, LongHorn Steakhouse
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
M. John Martin
President, Specialty Restaurant Group
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2026
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
M. John Martin
Group President
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Todd Burrowes
Group President and President, Chuy's
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Matthew Broad
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary
Departed during or after this year
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Sarah King
Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.

Equity awards granted

Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2025
OfficerAwardGrant dateThreshold unitsTarget unitsUnits grantedMaximum unitsExercise priceGrant date fair value
Daniel KiernanOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Daniel KiernanRSU◇——◇——◇
Daniel KiernanPSU◇—◇—◇—◇
M. John MartinPSU◇—◇—◇—◇
M. John MartinOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
M. John MartinRSU◇——◇——◇
Rajesh VennamPSU◇—◇—◇—◇
Rajesh VennamOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Rajesh VennamRSU◇——◇——◇
Ricardo CardenasPSU◇—◇—◇—◇
Ricardo CardenasOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Ricardo CardenasRSU◇——◇——◇
Todd BurrowesOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Todd BurrowesPSU◇—◇—◇—◇
Todd BurrowesRSU◇——◇——◇
Fiscal 2022, 2023, 2024 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.

Outstanding awards

Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2026 year end
OfficerAwardUnvested unitsMarket value of unvested unitsExercise priceExpires
Ricardo CardenasPSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/24/2034
RSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/26/2033
Option◇—◇7/23/2035
Option◇—◇7/27/2032
Rajesh VennamPSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/24/2034
RSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/23/2035
Option◇—◇7/26/2033
Option◇—◇7/27/2032
M. MartinPSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/24/2034
Option◇—◇7/26/2033
RSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/23/2035
Option◇—◇7/27/2032
Todd BurrowesPSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/24/2034
Option◇—◇7/26/2033
RSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/23/2035
Option◇—◇7/27/2032
Sarah KingPSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/24/2034
RSU◇◇——
Option◇—◇7/23/2035
Option◇—◇7/26/2033
Option◇—◇7/27/2032
Matthew BroadPSU◇◇——
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.

Severance and change in control

The terms as written in the agreements.
Matthew Broad
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion
Severance multiple◇
Severance base◇
Change-in-control trigger◇
Equity acceleration on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Rajesh Vennam
President & CFO · Change-in-control agreement
Severance multiple◇
Severance cash amount◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Ricardo Cardenas
President and Chief Executive Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion
Severance multiple◇
Severance base◇
Severance cash amount◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Sarah King
Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer · Change-in-control agreement
Severance multiple◇
Severance base◇
Severance cash amount◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Todd Burrowes
Group President and President, Chuy's · Change-in-control agreement
Severance multiple◇
Severance base◇
Severance cash amount◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇

Director compensation

What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2026
DirectorFees earned in cashStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Cynthia T. Jamison
Board chair
◇◇———◇◇
Charles M. Sonsteby
◇◇———◇◇
Margaret Shân Atkins
◇◇———◇◇
Timothy J. Wilmott
◇◇———◇◇
James P. Fogarty
◇◇———◇◇
Juliana L. Chugg
◇◇———◇◇
William S. Simon
◇◇———◇◇
Daryl A. Kenningham
◇◇———◇◇
Ricardo Cardenas served on the board in fiscal 2026 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.

Director fee schedule

The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
Board cash retainer◇
Board equity retainer◇
Total board retainer◇
Board chair premium◇
Lead independent director premium◇
Audit committee chair◇
Audit committee member◇
Compensation committee chair◇
Compensation committee member◇
Nominating and governance chair◇
Nominating and governance member◇
Equity is delivered as restricted stock units.
Stock ownership guideline: 5x annual Board cash retainer ($500,000)

Disclosed peer group

The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2026
  • Advance Auto Parts, Inc. AAP
  • Aramark Corporation ARMK
  • AutoZone, Inc. AZO
  • Bath & Body Works, Inc. BBWI
  • Burlington Stores, Inc. BURL
  • Carnival Corporation & plc CCL
  • Chipotle Mexican Grille, Inc. CMG
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. DKS
  • Domino’s Pizza, Inc. DPZ
  • Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HLT
  • Marriott International, Inc. MAR
  • O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. ORLY
  • Restaurant Brands International, Inc. QSR
  • Ross Stores, Inc. ROST
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. RCL
  • Tractor Supply Company TSCO
  • Ulta Beauty, Inc. ULTA
  • Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM

Say-on-pay history

Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
YearMeetingSupportVotes forVotes againstAbstentions
2025September 17, 2025=◇◇◇
2024September 18, 2024=◇◇◇
2023September 18, 2024=◇◇◇
2022September 20, 2023=◇◇◇
2021September 21, 2022=◇◇◇
2020September 22, 2021=◇◇◇
2019September 23, 2020=◇◇◇
2018September 18, 2019=◇◇◇
2017September 19, 2018=◇◇◇
2016September 21, 2017=◇◇◇

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Sample answer — “What is the CEO’s total compensation?”
- Ricardo Cardenas (President and Chief Executive Officer), FY2026 total compensation $34,815,979 (base salary $1,325,000) [exec_comp, SEC accession 0001193125-26-342023, filed 2026-08-10]

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What this page does not include

Everything above is a fact Darden Restaurants disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Darden Restaurants sits against its disclosed peers — percentile position by role and by pay element, and the ranking behind it. The disclosed peer group is free; comparisons across it are part of the Velarion platform.
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Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
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Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
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Citations

Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
382 figures on this page: 372 cited to the filing that reported them, 10 calculated from figures it prints.
372 cited to the filing
10 calculated from the filing

Documents cited

  1. 0001193125-26-342023
    Current Director Compensation Program · Fiscal 2026 Compensation of Non-Employee Directors · Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End · Summary Compensation Table
  3. 0000940944-25-000048
  4. 0000950170-25-101699
    Compensation Discussion and Analysis · Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2025 · Summary Compensation Table
  5. 0000940944-24-000046
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  6. 0000950170-24-090429
    Summary Compensation Table
  7. 0000940944-23-000043
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  8. 0001193125-23-204713
    Summary Compensation Table
  9. 0000940944-22-000050
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  10. 0001193125-22-214463
    Summary Compensation Table
  11. 0000940944-21-000056
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  12. 0000940944-20-000065
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  13. 0000940944-19-000035
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  14. 0000940944-18-000057
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  15. 0000940944-17-000040
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Cite this data
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Velarion, “Darden Restaurants executive compensation, FY2022–FY2026.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/DRI (accessed 2026).
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Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
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15 filings cited on this page
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Gaming & Lodging rankings

Chief executive pay — Gaming & LodgingCEO pay ratio — Gaming & LodgingSay-on-pay support — Gaming & Lodging

Peers Darden Restaurants discloses

The companies named in DRI's own disclosed peer group.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.Aramark CorporationAutoZone, Inc.Bath & Body Works, Inc.Burlington Stores, Inc.Carnival Corporation & plcChipotle Mexican Grille, Inc.Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.Domino’s Pizza, Inc.Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.Marriott International, Inc.O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.Restaurant Brands International, Inc.Ross Stores, Inc.Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.Tractor Supply CompanyUlta Beauty, Inc.Yum! Brands, Inc.

Terms on this page

Say-on-Pay VoteCEO Pay RatioMedian Employee CompensationAll companies

Free to read and cite. Redistribution or bulk use of the dataset requires a data license. Talk to us about the data license.

Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
  author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
  title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
  year = {2026},
  version = {2026Q3},
  doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
  publisher = {Zenodo},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}
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