Salesforce CEO Benioff: 2,250-option exercise and sales on 09/15/2025
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce, reported Rule 10b5-1 plan trades dated 09/15/2025. He exercised 2,250 non-qualified stock options with a $161.50 exercise price and immediately sold an equal number of shares in multiple transactions under the plan at weighted-average prices ranging from approximately $241.28 to $244.35. After these transactions, Benioff directly beneficially owned 11,911,571 shares. The filing also discloses 107,000 shares held indirectly by trust and 10,000,000 shares held indirectly by the Marc Benioff Fund LLC.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- Direct holdings decreased by 2,250 shares following exercise and sales on 09/15/2025
- Shares sold at high market prices (weighted-average sale prices approximately $241.28 to $244.35), representing insider liquidity
Insights
TL;DR Routine Section 16 transactions under a 10b5-1 plan: option exercise paired with sales; ownership remains concentrated via trusts and a fund.
The filing documents an option exercise of 2,250 shares at a $161.50 strike followed by sales executed under a pre-existing 10b5-1 plan on 09/15/2025 at weighted-average prices near $241–$244. The net effect at the direct level is a small reduction in reported shares, while substantial indirect holdings persist: 107,000 shares via a trust and 10,000,000 shares via Marc Benioff Fund LLC. For investors, this is a compliance-driven, routine liquidity action rather than a material shift in control.
TL;DR Disclosure aligns with governance best practices: transactions executed under an established 10b5-1 plan with explanatory footnotes.
The report confirms the trades were effected automatically under a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted January 9, 2025, and includes granular weighted-average price ranges for multiple sale tranches. The filing also identifies ownership form distinctions (direct versus indirect) and provides vesting details for the exercised options. This level of disclosure supports transparency and reduces informational asymmetry for shareholders.
Insider Trade Summary
| Type | Security | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy) | 2,250 | $0.00 | -- |
| Exercise | Common Stock | 2,250 | $161.50 | $363K |
| Sale | Common Stock | 1,165 | $241.8104 | $282K |
| Sale | Common Stock | 791 | $242.7311 | $192K |
| Sale | Common Stock | 258 | $243.7155 | $63K |
| Sale | Common Stock | 36 | $244.3451 | $9K |
| holding | Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
| holding | Common Stock | -- | -- | -- |
Footnotes (1)
- As indicated by the checkbox above, this transaction was effected automatically pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on January 9, 2025. Shares held in the reporting person's name or in the Marc R. Benioff Revocable Trust. Weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $241.2750 to $242.2700 inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above. Weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $242.2800 to $243.2622 inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above. Weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $243.3488 to $244.1793 inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above. Shares held in the Marc Benioff Fund LLC (the "Fund"). Fund interests are held in the reporting person's name or in trust. Option vests over four years at the rate of 25% on March 22, 2020, the first anniversary of the holder's date of grant, with the balance vesting in equal monthly installments over the remaining 36 months.