Volume 55, Issue 4 p. 529-556
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Beauty is wealth: CEO attractiveness and firm value

Joseph T. Halford

Joseph T. Halford

University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada

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Hung-Chia S. Hsu

Corresponding Author

Hung-Chia S. Hsu

University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Correspondence

Hung-Chia Hsu, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR.

Email: SHsu@walton.uark.edu

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First published: 01 June 2020
Citations: 18

Abstract

This paper examines whether and how CEO attractiveness relates to firm value. We construct a Facial Attractiveness Index of 667 CEOs based on their facial geometry. More attractive CEOs are associated with better stock returns surrounding their job announcements and around earnings-announcement news with CEOs' images. Further, more attractive CEOs are related to higher acquirer returns following acquisition announcements and higher Tobin's Q. Finally, consistent with the existing literature documenting the beauty premium in pay, more attractive CEOs receive higher compensation.

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