Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) CEO Phong Le just bought his company’s STRC preferred stock for $5,467 for his two children. He has earned more than $37 million over the past three years running the company, including $13.7 million in total executive compensation in fiscal year 2025 alone.
The numbers aren’t any better, but all three minor children technically had STRCs until May 22nd. They collectively hold 186 STRC shares, worth a combined $18,600.
Mr. Lee, along with founder Michael Saylor, have spent the past year pitching STRC to retail investors as a competitor to the high-yield bank accounts and money market. Le’s 11.5% variable rate stock has a market capitalization of $10.4 billion, about four-fifths of which are owned by non-accredited retail investors.
Mr. Lee disclosed the family’s May 22 purchase in an SEC Form 4 dated May 26. He purchased 50 shares of STRC stock for Minor 1 at a price of $99.41 and an additional 5 shares for Minor 3 at a price of $99.37.
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A great gift from the strategic CEO who made $37 million
Strategy’s 2025 financial report filed with the SEC on April 28 lists Lee’s total compensation in 2025 as $13,784,204. Specifically, his package consisted of $1.1 million in salary, $1.235 million in bonuses, $8.8 million in stock compensation, and $2.38 million in option compensation.
In other words, Mr. Lee’s gift to his children will be less than 1/100th of his stock compensation in 2025.
His 2024 total was slightly higher at $15.74 million. This was primarily due to the higher closing price of Strategy’s common stock, MSTR, in 2024 compared to 2025, and Mr. Lee received $8 million in 2023.
STRC controversy becomes mainstream
Mr. Lee also bought STRC for himself, although it doesn’t amount to anywhere near his compensation level, let alone his net worth. On March 19, he purchased 2,509 shares of STRC stock for $99.62 in a $250,000 public transaction.
Although it’s trivial compared to his personal wealth, he told podcaster Nathalie Brunel that he wanted to “experience” STRC, comparing its monthly dividends to a paycheck.
CEO whose common stock has fallen 58% in 12 months
STRC is a perpetual preferred stock that pays monthly dividends and is semi-fixed at $100. The stock is trading as low as $90.52 per share on the Nasdaq. In its private debut, Strategy priced its public offering at $90 per share on July 24, 2025.
To encourage bids of up to $100 per share, Strategy has raised its monthly dividend rate seven times since STRC’s inception, now ranging from 9% to 11.5%.
Mr. Le personally owns 8,009 STRC shares, 6,000 Strife shares, 4,500 Stride shares, and 22,923 MSTR common shares.
STRC closed Tuesday at $99.47, just below its $100 par value. The company’s MSTR common stock has declined 11% over the past six months. 58% in the last 12 months.
The company’s vast Bitcoin (BTC) stockpile has been acquired at an average cost basis of $75,700, slightly above the current market price, excluding the $1 billion in costs during the past six years of executing its acquisition strategy.
