PUBLIC MARKS from calipussoftware with tag gopro

Shortly before GoPro went public in July 2014, the company laid out a few of its potential risk factors for investors: competition from the likes of Apple, the ability to maintain the premium value of its brand and being "highly dependent" on its CEO and founder. "Our future success depends in significant part on the continued service of our Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Woodman," the company said in its S-1 filing. "Mr. Woodman is an at-will employee and there are no vesting restrictions on any of the Class B common stock that he owns. The loss of Mr. Woodman could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results." So perhaps it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that GoPro would pay pretty much any amount of money to ensure that the CEO is happy and engaged. Woodman received 4.5 million restricted stock units worth $284.5 million as of the end of 2014, earning him the title of highest paid CEO in the U.S., according to the new Bloomberg Pay Index.