How a Malaysian-born engineer became one of America's highest-paid executives

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From a British protectorate in Malaysia to the helm of a global semiconductor giant, Hock Tan’s career is a masterclass in aggressive acquisition. His journey involves massive multi-billion dollar bids, a controversial corporate relocation, and a compensation package that places him at the very top of the American corporate hierarchy.

Born in Penang around 1951 or 1952, Hock Tan’s path to the top of the technology sector was paved by elite technical training. After receiving a scholarship to MIT in 1971, he earned degrees in mechanical engineering before completing an MBA at Harvard. His early professional years were spent in diverse roles, ranging from finance positions at General Motors and PepsiCo to managing a Singapore-based venture capital firm, Pacven Investment.

Tan’s reputation as a dealmaker was forged through a series of high-stakes maneuvers. In 2005, he led the $2.66 billion buyout of Agilent Technologies' Semiconductor Products Group to create Avago. He later merged this entity with Broadcom Corporation in 2015 to form the current Broadcom Inc. His ambitions reached a peak in 2017 with a $117 billion bid for Qualcomm, a transaction so massive it would have been the largest technology deal in history, though it was ultimately blocked by the U.S. government in 2018.

The scale of Tan's leadership is reflected in both his corporate strategy and personal earnings. In 2023, his compensation reached $161.8 million, a 167% increase from the prior year, making him the third-highest-paid CEO in the United States. This figure represented a staggering 510-to-1 pay ratio compared to the company's median worker. By 2025, his total compensation rose further to $205.3 million. Beyond the boardroom, Tan has directed tens of millions of dollars toward autism research at institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Cornell.

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