• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line

2

Tim Cook signed off on his final Apple earnings call with a warning about a ‘100-year flood’ in memory chip pricing

3

Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar

1

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line

2

Tim Cook signed off on his final Apple earnings call with a warning about a ‘100-year flood’ in memory chip pricing

3

Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar
Big TechCEO salaries and executive compensation

Instagram boss reveals he’s paid $900K per year plus stock worth ‘tens of millions of dollars’ as he denies ‘addiction’ claims

By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
Former News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
Former News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 12, 2026, 3:09 PM ET
Mosseri walks away from courthouse
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri leaves Los Angeles County Superior Court, Feb. 9, 2026. Apu Gomes—AFP/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri’s compensation came under fire during the landmark social media addiction trial against its parent company, Meta, and YouTube in Los Angeles on Wednesday. 

Recommended Video

Mosseri, who has led Instagram since 2016, revealed under questioning that he is paid roughly $900,000 a year and receives annual performance-based bonuses that can be up to half his salary, according to multiple outlets covering the trial. Mosseri also earns stock-based pay, which he said varies yearly but has been in the “tens of millions of dollars.” Some years, it’s been over $20 million, he said.

The 20-year-old plaintiff, identified by the initials “KGM” or “Kaley,” alleges that she developed mental health issues owing to a social media addiction. Mosseri’s compensation came up when her lawyer, Mark Lanier, inquired about a connection between his pay and the choices he made about the company’s growth—and whether fueling social-media addiction was incentivized. Lanier also brought up Mosseri’s previous reference to Instagram’s addictive qualities in a podcast, although it was not apparent which podcast he was referring to. Mosseri explained that he was likely using the term “too casually,” as people sometimes do.  

Mosseri strongly denied the claim that Instagram is addictive and targets teenagers to maximize profits, saying that the company makes the least money from teens compared with other demographics because they don’t have disposable income. 

Mosseri said there is an important difference between “clinical addiction” and “problematic” use, though he also repeatedly said that he is not a medical professional. 

“I believe protecting minors in the long run is good for profit and business,” Mosseri said when questioned by Meta’s lawyers. But that wasn’t all Mosseri had to contend with.

Internal documents exposed

Lanier displayed to the court internal documents written by Meta executives suggesting that they knew that filters were harmful for young women, but removing such filters would make the company less competitive, CNN reported. 

“We are talking about encouraging young girls into body dysmorphia,” an email from a Meta executive read. In another email, an executive said that banning filters would “limit our ability to be competitive in Asian markets (including India).”

Instagram initially decided to ban all filters that distort faces, Mosseri said, but it later altered the decision.

Lanier asked Mosseri if banning filters that change users’ appearance could have affected the company’s bottom line. “I was never worried about this affecting our stock price,” Mosseri responded, defending against the idea that his compensation was linked to product-design choices that would be harmful to users.

Meta’s proxy statements filed with the SEC include detailed pay tables only for named executive officers, such as Mark Zuckerberg and a small number of top corporate executives; Mosseri is typically not listed among these named officers, so his exact annual compensation is not broken out in the proxy the way the CEO’s is, making his testimony the closest look yet at his compensation.

Meta did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment on the trial and Mosseri’s compensation.

Mosseri’s testimony offers a preview of what is to come next week, when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. 

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
By Jacqueline MunisFormer News Fellow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Big Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Big Tech

LinkedIn adds a ‘seems like AI slop’ button after blocking billions of automated comment attempts in the last few months
CybersecurityLinkedIn
LinkedIn adds a ‘seems like AI slop’ button after blocking billions of automated comment attempts in the last few months
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 31, 2026
6 hours ago
After a nearly 1,000% surge, the AI debt orgy can’t last forever, while hidden borrowing has exploded to $1.65 trillion
Big TechDebt
After a nearly 1,000% surge, the AI debt orgy can’t last forever, while hidden borrowing has exploded to $1.65 trillion
By Jason MaJuly 31, 2026
12 hours ago
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power, July 18–31, 2026
C-SuiteFortune 500 Power Moves
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power, July 18–31, 2026
By Fortune EditorsJuly 31, 2026
13 hours ago
Jensen Huang speaks into a microphone
SuccessCareers
Jensen Huang says this is the greatest time in history to start a business—and his advice is to stop overthinking it: ‘How hard can it be?’
By Preston ForeJuly 31, 2026
13 hours ago
An Apple flagship store
InvestingCFO Daily
Apple shows that AI winners don’t have to build the biggest models
By Sheryl EstradaJuly 31, 2026
15 hours ago
Tim Cook’s last quarter as Apple CEO: record iPhone sales, stock still falls
Big TechMarkets
Tim Cook’s last quarter as Apple CEO: record iPhone sales, stock still falls
By Barbara Ortutay and The Associated PressJuly 31, 2026
16 hours ago

Most Popular

The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line
Retail
The rise of 'conspicuous waiting': The 19th-century economic theory that explains why Gen Z posts their place in line
By Tatiana SatauaJuly 31, 2026
22 hours ago
Tim Cook signed off on his final Apple earnings call with a warning about a ‘100-year flood’ in memory chip pricing
Big Tech
Tim Cook signed off on his final Apple earnings call with a warning about a ‘100-year flood’ in memory chip pricing
By Alexei OreskovicJuly 30, 2026
1 day ago
Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar
Personal Finance
Millennials say they’ll refuse to care for aging boomer parents—but they’ll be forced to as their inheritance shrinks to 40 cents on the dollar
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 31, 2026
22 hours ago
He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
Success
He worked 100-hour weeks to save a nearly bankrupt boat company. At 83, he’s just turned down $400 million for it—and gave it all to charity instead
By Preston ForeJuly 29, 2026
3 days ago
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
Retail
Costco's $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
By Sydney LakeJuly 29, 2026
3 days ago
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
7 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.