If you’ve walked into a Target recently and noticed the "dealworthy" signs or the massive push for Target Circle 360, you're seeing the final fingerprints of a retail era. Brian Cornell is stepping down as CEO on February 1, 2026. He’s moving to the Executive Chair role, handing the keys to Michael Fiddelke. This transition isn't just about a change in the corner office; it’s a massive moment for investors trying to pin down the Brian Cornell net worth after a wild few years in the retail trenches.
Most people see a CEO and think "billionaire." Honestly, that’s rarely the case with retail executives unless they founded the company. Cornell is wealthy, sure. But his fortune is tied to the stock market’s mood swings and Target’s ability to sell Cat & Jack leggings during an inflation crisis.
Estimates for his total wealth in early 2026 generally land between $90 million and $100 million. Some trackers, like GuruFocus, look strictly at current SEC filings and pin his direct stock holdings at around $39 million. However, when you factor in over a decade of high-level compensation, previous stock sales, and diversified investments, the $90 million figure is much closer to reality.
The Payday Peak and the $9.9 Million Reality Check
You've probably heard about the "golden years" of CEO pay. In 2020, Cornell hit a career-high compensation package of $77.5 million. It was a staggering number. But it wasn't cash sitting in a checking account. It was almost entirely stock awards that vested because Target absolutely crushed it during the pandemic.
👉 See also: Stock Market News Today July 17 2025: Why Records Are Breaking While Insurance Is Bleeding
Things look a bit different now.
By the end of the 2024 fiscal year, Cornell’s total pay dropped to $9.9 million. That is an 87% decline from his peak. Why? Basically, Target missed some key performance targets. When the company doesn't hit its goals for sales growth and return on invested capital, the CEO's "at-risk" pay vanishes.
- Base Salary: $1.4 million (This hasn't changed since 2019).
- Bonus & Incentives: $2.3 million.
- Stock Awards: $5.5 million realized from vesting shares.
- Other Perks: Roughly $596,000 for things like security and personal use of the company jet.
It’s a lot of money, but it shows how much of the Brian Cornell net worth is vulnerable to the same economic pressures we all feel at the checkout counter.
How the Brian Cornell Net Worth Was Built
Brian Cornell didn’t start at the top. He’s a UCLA grad who famously worked his way up, including a stint washing delivery trucks. Before Target, he was a heavy hitter at PepsiCo and Sam’s Club. By the time he arrived at Target in 2014, he already had a significant nest egg.
His tenure at Target since 2014 has been defined by the "store-as-hub" strategy. He turned Target locations into mini-warehouses for online orders. It saved the company. But 2025 was a brutal year for the stock. Target (TGT) shares fell nearly 28% in 2025 as the company struggled with "shrink"—the industry term for theft—and a pullback in discretionary spending on home decor and apparel.
As of early 2026, Cornell still owns roughly 353,848 shares of Target stock. At a price hovering around $111 per share, that stake alone is worth over $39 million. He also holds a small amount of Yum Brands (YUM) stock from his time on their board, though he sold most of that in late 2025 for about $291,000.
Breaking Down the Insider Trading
If you want to know what a CEO really thinks about their company's future, watch their Form 4 filings with the SEC. Cornell has been a consistent seller, but not in a "panic" kind of way. It’s more like a "diversifying for retirement" kind of way.
🔗 Read more: usbank stock price today: What Most People Get Wrong
Over the last 18 months, he’s sold about 135,000 shares of Target. In May 2025 alone, he cashed out 45,000 shares for roughly $4 million. These sales are usually planned months in advance to avoid "insider trading" accusations. They provide the liquidity that makes up the non-stock portion of his net worth.
Critics often point to these sales when the stock is down, but you’ve got to remember that for a guy who has been at the helm for over 11 years, this is how he gets paid. Most of his "wealth" is on paper until he clicks that sell button.
The "Shrink" Crisis and Cultural Backlash
It hasn't been all smooth sailing. The Brian Cornell net worth took a hit—at least on paper—due to several controversies that alienated parts of the customer base. From the DEI backlash in 2024 to the implementation of locked glass cases in 2025, Target has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
The "theft crisis" reportedly cost Target upwards of $500 million in lost profit in a single year. While the locked cases helped stop shoplifters, they also hurt "sales velocity." People hate waiting for an employee to unlock a $12 bottle of laundry detergent. Cornell had to balance the protection of assets with the "joy of shopping" that Target is known for. It was a tough needle to thread, and the stock price reflected that struggle.
What Happens to His Wealth After Retirement?
When Michael Fiddelke takes over as CEO in February 2026, Cornell isn't just going to disappear to a beach in Florida. As Executive Chair, he’ll still be drawing a significant paycheck.
He’ll likely receive a mix of cash and equity for his advisory role. This will keep his net worth tethered to Target’s performance for at least another year or two. If Fiddelke can successfully lean into the new private labels like Gigglescape and expand the Cat & Jack brand internationally (like the 2025 deal with Hudson’s Bay in Canada), Cornell’s remaining stock could see a significant bump.
Actionable Insights for Investors
If you're tracking the Brian Cornell net worth because you're an investor, there are a few things to keep an eye on as we move further into 2026:
- Monitor the Executive Transition: The "Fiddelke era" will focus heavily on value. Watch if the "dealworthy" brand can actually steal market share from Walmart and Amazon.
- Watch the 106 Level: Target stock has been hovering around $106. This is a psychological floor. If it drops below this, Cornell’s personal stake takes a multi-million dollar hit, and institutional investors might start heading for the exits.
- The Paid Membership Growth: Target Circle 360 reached 13 million members by early 2026. This recurring revenue is the "holy grail" for retail stability. If that number stalls, the stock—and Cornell's net worth—will likely follow suit.
Brian Cornell’s legacy is a "turnaround" story that hit a speed bump in its final acts. He leaves with a fortune that most of us can't imagine, but also with the challenge of proving that the "Tarzhay" magic still works in a high-inflation world.
To get a clearer picture of your own investment strategy in light of these retail shifts, you should review your portfolio’s exposure to discretionary retail stocks. Focus on companies that are successfully migrating to a "value-first" model, as Target is attempting to do with its 2026 private label expansion. Diversifying away from companies heavily impacted by "shrink" or theft-related margin compression is also a prudent move in the current retail climate.