Mary Barra Net Worth
Mary Barra is an American business executive with an estimated net worth of $90 million. She serves as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors (GM) and made history in 2014 as the first female CEO of a “Big Three” U.S. automaker.
Barra has spent her entire professional career at GM, rising through engineering, manufacturing, and executive leadership roles to lead the company through a transformation toward electric and autonomous vehicles.
Early Life
Mary Barra was born Mary Makela on December 24, 1961, in Royal Oak, Michigan. She is of Finnish descent.
She earned:
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute)
- MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business
Her MBA was completed through a GM fellowship.
Mary Barra Salary and Compensation
Barra is among the highest-paid automotive executives, with compensation tied to GM’s performance and long-term strategy.
- Total compensation in first decade as CEO: ~$200 million
- Base salary: about $2 million annually
- Typical yearly earnings: $20–30 million
Recent Compensation
- 2020: $23.7 million total compensation
- 2021: $29.1 million total compensation
- 2022: $28.98 million total compensation
Compensation packages include salary, bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and performance incentives.
Stock Holdings and Ownership
Mary Barra owns at least 1,127,563 shares of GM stock.
- GM shares outstanding (2023): ~1.378 billion
- Barra’s ownership: ~0.082% of total shares
Her equity holdings tie her wealth directly to GM’s long-term performance.
Career Growth at General Motors
Barra joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student inspecting vehicle components. She went on to hold numerous engineering and management roles.
Key Leadership Positions
- Manager, Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant
- Vice President, Global Manufacturing Engineering (2008)
- Vice President, Global Human Resources (2009)
- Executive Vice President, Global Product Development (2011)
- Expanded role overseeing purchasing & supply chain (2013)
Becoming CEO of General Motors
In 2014, Barra succeeded Daniel Akerson as CEO.
Her first year was dominated by a major ignition-switch recall crisis, prompting GM to implement new safety reporting policies and corporate accountability measures.
Since then, Barra has focused on:
- Expanding electric vehicle production
- Investing in autonomous driving technologies
- Strengthening vehicle safety and quality controls
- Modernizing manufacturing and supply chains
GM acquired self-driving technology startup Strobe as part of its autonomous vehicle push.
Board Memberships
Barra has served on numerous boards and advisory bodies, including:
- Stanford University Board of Trustees
- The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors
- Homeland Security Advisory Council (appointed 2022)
She has also supported civic and educational organizations in the Detroit area.
Mary Barra Awards
Barra has received widespread recognition for her leadership:
- Named among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women multiple times
- Ranked No. 4 on Forbes Most Powerful Women list (2018)
- Included in Time 100 (2021)
- Honored with the Legend in Leadership Award (Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute)
- Recipient of the Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication
Personal Life
Barra is married to consultant Tony Barra, whom she met while studying at the General Motors Institute. They have two children and live in Northville Township, near Detroit. She also maintains a residence in downtown Detroit.
Mary Barra Net Worth
Mary Barra net worth is estimated to be $90 million.
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