Rick Smith, CEO of stun gun manufacturer Axon, makes headlines as the highest-paid CEO in the U.S. for 2024, boasting a staggering $165 million income—up 999% from the previous year. His compensation package not only surpasses those of tech giants like Apple’s Tim Cook but also reflects Axon’s impressive performance, which saw a 30% annual revenue increase and a market cap boost to $50 billion.
However, Smith’s rise to billionaire status carries a controversial backstory, as he cites the tragic deaths of two friends as his motivation for founding Axon, despite investigations questioning the accuracy of his claims. With his goal to “make the bullet obsolete” in the context of rising gun violence, the company is now pioneering AI technology to enhance policing. These dual narratives of corporate success and personal tragedy invite scrutiny into the motivations behind Axon’s mission.
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