James Quincey and Howard Schultz built their reputations around two of the world’s most recognizable beverage companies, but their paths were very different. Quincey spent three decades rising through Coca-Cola before becoming CEO, while Schultz transformed Starbucks from a small Seattle coffee business into a global brand. Quincey is now Coca-Cola’s Executive Chairman, while Schultz is a former Starbucks CEO and Chairman Emeritus. The table below brings their key personal, professional and financial details together in one clean comparison.
James Quincey and Howard Schultz Quick Bio
| Profile Detail | James Quincey | Howard Schultz |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | James Quincey | Howard D. Schultz |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1965 | July 19, 1953 |
| Net Worth | At least $12 million+ | About $3.6 billion estimated |
| Age | 61 years | 73 years |
| Birthplace | London, England | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | British | American |
| Profession | Business executive and corporate leader | Businessman, entrepreneur and author |
| Famous For | Leading The Coca-Cola Company as CEO from 2017 to 2026 | Building Starbucks into a global coffeehouse company |
| Current Position | Executive Chairman, The Coca-Cola Company | Chairman Emeritus, Starbucks |
| Former CEO Role | Coca-Cola CEO, 2017–March 31, 2026 | Starbucks CEO in multiple periods, including 1987–2000, 2008–2017 and 2022–2023 |
| Company Associated With | The Coca-Cola Company | Starbucks |
| Joined Company | 1996 | Joined Starbucks in 1982 |
| Career Beginning | Management consulting before joining Coca-Cola | Sales and marketing, including Xerox and Hammarplast |
| Major Career Breakthrough | Rose through Coca-Cola’s international leadership structure | Acquired Starbucks in 1987 after founding Il Giornale |
| Education | University of Liverpool | Northern Michigan University |
| Degree | Electronic Engineering | Communications |
| Parents | Public information is limited | Fred Schultz and Elaine Schultz |
| Siblings | Limited reliable public information | One brother and one sister |
| Marital Status | Married | Married |
| Spouse | Jacqui Quincey | Sheri Kersch Schultz |
| Children | Two children publicly reported | Two children |
| Family Privacy | Keeps family life largely private | Keeps much of his family’s private life away from the spotlight |
| Height | Not reliably confirmed | About 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), according to published listings |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed | Not reliably confirmed |
| Hair Color | Gray/white in recent appearances | Gray/white in recent appearances |
| Eye Color | Not reliably documented | Not reliably documented |
| Nickname | No widely established public nickname | No widely established public nickname |
| Hobbies / Interests | Limited reliably documented information | Sports, particularly basketball |
| No personal account confidently verified as official | No personal account confidently verified as official | |
| Major Business Achievement | Helped lead Coca-Cola’s global business and portfolio strategy | Helped turn Starbucks into a global coffeehouse brand |
| International Experience | Extensive leadership experience across Coca-Cola’s international markets | Built Starbucks’ international expansion from its U.S. base |
| Major Business Philosophy | Global growth, portfolio management and corporate strategy | Customer experience, coffeehouse culture and employee benefits |
| Major Venture Outside Main Company | Primarily associated with Coca-Cola leadership | Co-founded Maveron, a consumer-focused investment firm |
| Sports Connection | No major publicly documented ownership role | Former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics |
| Philanthropy | Public corporate and leadership involvement | Schultz Family Foundation |
| Books / Writing | Not primarily known as an author | Author of business and leadership books |
| Leadership Style | Strategic, international and corporate-focused | Entrepreneurial, brand-focused and employee-oriented |
| CEO Transition | Stepped down as Coca-Cola CEO on March 31, 2026 | Left his final Starbucks CEO role in 2023 |
| Current Corporate Status | Continues as Executive Chairman of Coca-Cola | Former executive; Chairman Emeritus of Starbucks |
| Career Legacy | Three decades at Coca-Cola, culminating in the CEO role and continued board leadership | Built Starbucks into a global consumer brand and shaped its modern coffeehouse identity |
| Wealth Source | Executive compensation, Coca-Cola holdings and investments | Starbucks ownership, investments and other business interests |
| Public Image | Low-profile global corporate executive | High-profile entrepreneur and former Starbucks leader |
| Celebrity Profile | Business-world celebrity rather than entertainment celebrity | Widely recognized business celebrity associated with Starbucks |
| Last Word | A career Coca-Cola executive who rose from an international management role to CEO and now Executive Chairman | The entrepreneur who helped transform Starbucks from a regional coffee business into a worldwide brand |
James Quincey and Howard Schultz Images
