Kathy Warden, the Chair, CEO, and President of Northrop Grumman, stands among the highest-earning executives in the defense industry. As of October 2025, her estimated net worth ranges between $123 million and $138 million, primarily tied to over 201,600 shares of Northrop Grumman (NOC) stock. Her wealth comes mainly from years of leadership, strategic decisions that shaped the company, and consistent growth in company stock value.
Northrop Grumman CEO
Warden has served as Northrop Grumman’s CEO and President since January 2019, and became Chair of the Board in August the same year. Under her leadership, Northrop Grumman strengthened its position as a defense and aerospace leader, working on advanced programs in autonomous systems, defense technology, and space operations.
Her role involves more than leading a major global corporation—it includes shaping innovations that affect national security. That influence, coupled with steady corporate profitability, explains why her compensation and stock awards continue to rise each year.
Kathy Warden Net Worth
Warden’s financial success reflects a blend of salary, stock ownership, and bonuses. As of mid-2025, she owns about 201,602 shares in Northrop Grumman, with a combined market value of over $121 million to $134 million, based on stock prices hovering between $484 and $502 per share. Insider filings show she sold around 15,000 shares in 2025, earning approximately $6 million from those transactions.
Her base salary in 2023 was $1.7 million, with additional stock and bonus awards raising her total compensation to over $24 million for that year. This level of pay reflects both her performance and the company’s strong financial health—Northrop Grumman’s quarterly earnings in 2025 reached $1.2 billion, up from $940 million the previous year.
Career Highlights
Before stepping into her current leadership role, Warden built a reputation through roles at General Dynamics, Verizon, and GE. She joined Northrop Grumman in 2008, steadily advancing to Vice President, President of Mission Systems, and eventually CEO. Her rise illustrates how long-term dedication and experience in defense technology can lead to substantial career and financial gains.
Her work involves overseeing programs and technologies that play critical roles in modern warfare, cybersecurity, and space defense. Warden is also known for emphasizing innovation and digital transformation within Northrop Grumman’s vast operations.
Achievements and Recognition
Warden is widely recognized as one of the most powerful women in business. She ranked **#36 on Forbes’ “Power Women” list for 202, earning praise for directing one of the most advanced defense contractors in the world. Her leadership represents a rare blend of technical expertise, corporate strategy, and communication within a complex, highly regulated sector.
Beyond personal recognition, her performance has translated into consistent shareholder returns. In 2025, Northrop Grumman’s stock showed stability even amid market shifts, keeping her equity value strong.
Income Sources
Kathy Warden’s income primarily comes from three sources:
- Salary and Bonuses: Her base salary of nearly $1.7 million anchors a large compensation package, supplemented by performance-based incentives.
- Equity and Stock Awards: These make up the majority of her wealth. Stock awards in 2023 totaled more than $16 million, with additional non-equity incentives exceeding $5 million.
- Insider Holdings: Her Northrop Grumman stock remains her largest asset, reflecting her long-term commitment to the company.
She’s also a board member at Merck & Co., a role that adds additional compensation and enhances her corporate portfolio diversification.
Assets and Investments
Most of Warden’s known assets are tied to her ownership in Northrop Grumman Corp, alongside her board role holdings at Merck & Co.. While public records focus mainly on stock ownership rather than personal property, her financial disclosures suggest that her equity portfolio alone places her among the wealthiest corporate leaders in the United States defense sector.
According to SEC filings, Warden has made 12 insider trades since 2021, including sales of 25,000 NOC shares valued at about $12.3 million. Despite these sales, her retained holdings remain substantial and continue to grow in value as the company reports healthy profits.
Lifestyle and Personal Details
Kathy Warden keeps her personal life private, focusing public attention on her professional achievements. She is in her early 50s and resides in the United States, maintaining a low-profile lifestyle typical of defense industry executives. Unlike many CEOs, she rarely shares personal details publicly, staying aligned with her company’s culture of privacy and corporate responsibility.
Her communication style—measured, confident, and data-backed—has contributed to her respect across the defense and technology sectors. This demeanor also reassures investors and employees that stability and security remain priorities at Northrop Grumman.
Historical Data and Net Worth Trends
A look at her career earnings over time shows steady growth. Her estimated net worth was around $60 million in 2020, rose to approximately $98 million by 2023, and crossed the $120 million mark by mid-2025. The biggest driver of this increase has been Northrop Grumman’s consistent stock performance and her regular equity-based bonuses.
Since 2019, when she officially took over as CEO, Warden’s personal financial growth has paralleled the company’s success. That reflects a strong link between her leadership and shareholder value—traits that investors look for in executive management.
Why Kathy Warden’s Net Worth Matters
Warden’s story isn’t just about personal wealth—it reveals how performance, stability, and corporate responsibility intersect in modern leadership. Her net worth represents decades of decision-making that strengthened Northrop Grumman’s competitive edge while bringing transparency through SEC filings and insider trade records.
In an era when corporate accountability is under public scrutiny, Kathy Warden’s consistent financial disclosures and insider reports make her one of the most accountable high-profile executives in corporate America. Her impressive career trajectory continues to set an example for women in business, especially in industries long dominated by men.
Kathy Warden’s net worth tells the story of leadership built on results—not just financial gain. It reflects her growth within a complex industry and her ongoing impact on technology, defense, and corporate governance. As her tenure continues, both her wealth and influence remain closely tied to Northrop Grumman’s future success.
