MGM’s Bill Hornbuckle Lands $8M Bonus, Stays CEO to Lead $8.78B Osaka Project
MGM Resorts extends CEO Bill Hornbuckle’s tenure to 2028 with an $8 million bonus, setting him to steer the $8.78 billion Osaka resort project.
A Big Win for Hornbuckle
MGM Resorts International locked in CEO Bill Hornbuckle for another three years, announcing a new contract that keeps him at the helm until December 2028.
The deal, extending his prior August 2026 expiration, hands Hornbuckle an $8 million signing bonus, a $2 million base salary, a 250% target bonus, and $10 million in annual equity grants for four years. “
Bill is an exceptional, visionary leader,” said Chairman Paul Salem, praising Hornbuckle’s navigation of the pandemic and digital growth.
A 12.5-year MGM veteran, Hornbuckle joined as president and COO in 2012, became CEO in 2020, and now drives global strategy, from Vegas to Macau.
Steering MGM’s Global Push
Hornbuckle’s tenure shines with MGM’s $4.28 billion Q1 2025 revenue, edging past Wall Street’s $4.27 billion forecast, fueled by a 13% Vegas Strip surge.
He’s spearheaded digital bets like BetMGM and global expansions in New York, Brazil, and the Middle East. “I’m honored to continue leading at an exciting time of digital growth and resort expansion,” Hornbuckle said.
His next big play? Japan’s first integrated resort in Osaka, a $8.78 billion project with Orix Corporation on Yumeshima island, set for mid-2030.
Boasting Japan’s first casino, 2,500 hotel rooms, and a convention center, it’s a game-changer. “The Osaka project positions MGM as a global leader,” said analyst Carlo Santarelli. But Japan’s strict regulations and $1.27 trillion yen cost demand tight execution.
From CEO to Advisor
Post-2028, Hornbuckle won’t ride off, he’ll shift to a special advisor role for the Osaka resort, earning $25,000 monthly until its opening, with a potential success bonus.
As Japan IR board member, he’ll ensure MGM’s vision lands. “Our best days remain in front of us,” Hornbuckle said, crediting MGM’s 70,000 employees for a guest-first culture.
The deal’s timing, post-Q1 earnings, signals confidence. Salem insists Hornbuckle’s earned “trust, respect, and admiration” for steering MGM through mergers and international leaps.
Recommended