Scott Kirby was born on August 13, 1967, and will be 58 years old in 2025. He has been a leader in the airline business for a long time and is now the CEO of United Airlines. He has also been in important positions at American Airlines and United. Kirby first got the attention of people in the industry for his strategic vision during tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and for his work to update operations and push forward sustainability efforts.
Scott Kirby’s net worth is expected to be between $15 million and $16 million by 2025. This is due to executive pay, stock ownership, and performance-based awards at several big airlines. Kirby is well-known in the business world, but he doesn’t talk about his family. He is known for focusing on innovation, safety, and customer service at United Airlines.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
Field | Detail |
---|---|
Full Name | John Scott Kirby |
Date of Birth | August 13, 1967 |
Age (in 2025) | 58 |
Nationality | American |
Education | B.S., Computer Science & Operations Research, U.S. Air Force Academy; M.S., Operations Research, George Washington University |
Current Position | Chief Executive Officer (CEO), United Airlines |
Previous Positions | President, United Airlines (2016–2020); President, American Airlines (2013–2016); President, US Airways (2006–2013); Various roles, America West Airlines |
Industry Experience | Over 30 years in aviation; led airline mergers and strategic sector initiatives |
Notable Achievements | Oversaw major airline mergers; Chairman, Star Alliance Chief Executive Board; Pioneered mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations at United |
Estimated Net Worth | $67–108 million (2025 estimate) |
Family | Married, keeps personal life private |
Scott Kirby Net Worth in 2025
Scott Kirby’s net worth is thought to be at least $16 million as of 2025, and some sources say it could be as high as $20 million. This wealth has grown thanks to a mix of executive pay, stock awards, and bonuses based on success. His United Airlines stock ownership and trading actions bring in a lot of his net worth. Kirby’s net worth is higher than that of the average airline CEO because he has worked for several top airlines and been paid a lot in stock options.
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Income and Business Ventures
Earnings
For the year 2024, Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, made the most money of any airline boss in the United States, with a total pay of about $16 million. The different parts of his income were a base salary of about $1.2 million, a bonus of $3 million, $5.1 million in non-equity incentive plan pay, and $24.4 million in stock rewards. This was a big 83% raise from what he was paid in 2023, and it showed that his pay was back to what it was before the pandemic after COVID limits were lifted. Even though the headline number is high, Kirby’s base salary isn’t very high compared to his overall pay. Most of his earnings come from stock awards and incentives that are tied to performance.
Starting a business
Scott Kirby’s main business role is as CEO of United Airlines, where he works on long-term growth, operational efficiency, and new ideas in the airline industry. During his time there, he oversaw the recovery from the pandemic, pushed for sustainability measures, and led mergers and partnerships, such as the ongoing attempt to take over JetBlue. Kirby also sits on business and aviation-related boards and groups, which gives him even more power outside of running an airline day-to-day. Even though United Airlines is his main source of wealth and income, stock ownership and executive awards are also important parts of his aviation-related wealth.
Comparison with Other Celebrates
Airline | CEO Name | Total Compensation (2024) | Base Salary | Bonus | Stock Awards | Non-Equity Incentive Plan | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United Airlines (UA) | Scott Kirby | $33.9 million | $1.2M | $3M | $24.4M | $5.1M | Highest-paid U.S. airline CEO in 2024 |
Delta Air Lines (DL) | Ed Bastian | $27.1 million | $1.5M | $3M | $11M | $11.6M | Second highest-paid in U.S. |
American Airlines (AA) | Robert Isom | $15.6 million | $1.2M | $2M | $7M | $5.4M | Compensation down from prior years |
Southwest Airlines (WN) | Bob Jordan | $10.6 million | $1.2M | $2M | $5M | $2.4M | Conservative pay structure |
Who is Scott Kirby?
First, Kirby worked as a budget researcher for the U.S. Department of Defense. Then, he moved on to work in commercial aviation. He started working for America West Airlines in 1995 and quickly moved up through the ranks, taking on jobs like planning and revenue management. He later became president of US Airways and then American Airlines after they merged.
Kirby became President of United Airlines in 2016, and he took over as CEO from Oscar Munoz in May 2020. Many people respect Kirby for the way he thinks about things, the courage he shows when making choices (like making employees get vaccinated), and his focus on sustainability and operational excellence.
Scott Kirby Salary and Compensation
Kirby’s base salary is about $1 million a year, but his total stated pay, which includes bonuses and stock grants, is much higher than this amount. In 2025, he makes a total of $16 million. These are mostly cash awards that are tied to how well United does and the price of its stock. This pay is higher than what most airline CEOs get, which shows how important Kirby is to United’s strategy.
Does Scott Kirby Own a Private Jet?
The public does not have any proof that Scott Kirby owns a private jet. He often uses United Airlines’ corporate fleet for business travel instead of keeping a private plane for his own use, which is what most CEOs of big companies do. This behavior fits with who he is in public and with United’s policies that encourage business efficiency and sustainability.
Personal Life: Wife, Relationships & Children

Scott Kirby’s wife and past marriages
There isn’t a lot of information out there about Kirby’s present relationship status; what is known is mostly about his work. There are no official public records that prove the identities or jobs of his current or former spouses.
Kids with Scott Kirby
Information about Kirby’s kids is also kept secret. Most business and industry profiles and social media sites don’t talk about individual family members. This is normal for Fortune 500 CEOs unless a family member is well-known.
Scott Kirby Age & Early Life
Kirby was born in 1967, which means he will be 57 or 58 years old in 2025. After getting his degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy with majors in computer science and operations research, he went on to George Washington University to get his master’s degree in the same field. His background in budgeting for the Pentagon and his technical knowledge had a big impact on the way he managed airlines, which is based on data.
Debunking Confusion: Scott Kirby the Singer vs the CEO
There is a different Scott Kirby who is an artist and has nothing to do with the CEO of United Airlines. Scott Kirby is a singer-songwriter who makes a living making folk music. He is not an airline pilot or a business manager. This clears things up so that SEO doesn’t mix up the two famous people.
FAQs about Scott Kirby
How much does Scott Kirby earn each year?
He makes a base pay of $1 million and a total of $16 million a year in 2025.
How many kids does Scott Kirby have?
This information has not been confirmed by the public.
How much money does United Airlines have?
The market capitalization of United Airlines changes with the price of its stocks. However, as of 2025, the company is in good financial shape thanks to its return from the pandemic.
How much does Kirby J cost?
When talking about Scott Kirby, his net worth is thought to be between $44 million and $67 million.
Does Scott Kirby have a wife?
Information about a person’s spouse and marital state is not widely shared.
Does Scott Kirby have his own jet?
There is no public information that proves who owns a personal private jet.
Who is the second wife of Scott Kirby?
The identity of his second (or first) wife is unknown to the world.
Conclusion
Scott Kirby’s projected net worth in 2025 is between $15 million and $16 million. This is because United Airlines pays its executives well and gives them stock. As CEO, he has made United a leader in its field when it comes to economy, sustainability, and growth after a pandemic. Kirby’s analytical and people-centered approach will continue to shape the future of United and the airline business as a whole.
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