Former CEO: Samuel R. Allen served as Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company (John Deere) from 2009 to 2019. He retired as Chairman of the Board in May 2020 after a 45-year career. The current Chairman and CEO of John Deere is John C. May, who assumed the CEO role in November 2019.
Deere & Company, the iconic American heavy equipment manufacturer known worldwide as John Deere, was founded in 1837 by blacksmith John Deere in Grand Detour, Illinois. As the former John Deere CEO, Samuel R. Allen led the company through a transformative decade from 2009 to 2019, steering the $45 billion agricultural and construction equipment giant through the Great Recession recovery, a global expansion strategy, and a technology-driven modernization of precision agriculture. Allen joined Deere in 1975 as an industrial engineer and rose through virtually every major division over a 45-year career before retiring as Chairman in May 2020. Under his leadership, Deere & Company consistently ranked among the Fortune 100 and became the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery.
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Samuel R. Allen – Quick Facts
John Deere Competitors
Deere & Company operates in the highly competitive global heavy equipment, agricultural machinery, and construction equipment industries. The key competitors of John Deere include:
- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) – world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer
- CNH Industrial (Case IH, New Holland) – major global agricultural and construction equipment rival
- AGCO Corporation (Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Challenger) – focused agricultural equipment competitor
- Kubota Corporation – Japanese manufacturer strong in compact equipment and tractors
- Komatsu Ltd. – Japanese construction and mining equipment giant
- CLAAS – German agricultural machinery leader, especially in harvesting
- Mahindra & Mahindra – world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume
- Liebherr Group – Swiss-German diversified heavy equipment manufacturer
Samuel Allen Net Worth 2026 – John Deere CEO Salary
As of 2026, Samuel Allen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $150–180 million USD, based on his disclosed Deere & Company stock holdings and decades of executive compensation. According to SEC filings, Allen accumulated approximately 358,547 shares of Deere & Co (DE) stock through his tenure. With Deere stock trading above $620 per share in early 2026, those holdings alone would be worth over $170 million, making Allen one of the wealthiest former CEOs in the heavy equipment industry.
Samuel Allen Final Compensation Breakdown (FY2019)
Deere & Company Net Worth 2026 – Is John Deere Profitable?
Yes, Deere & Company remains a highly profitable company. Although fiscal year 2025 saw a cyclical downturn in the agricultural equipment market, the company still delivered over $5 billion in net income, demonstrating the resilience of the business that Samuel Allen helped build during his decade as CEO.
Deere & Company Financial Summary (FY2025)
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John Deere CEO Email Address | Samuel Allen Contact
Below are the contact details and social media profiles associated with former John Deere CEO Samuel R. Allen. Note that since Allen retired in 2020, his corporate email may no longer be active. For current Deere inquiries, contact the company directly.
Career & Education – Company, University, & College
Samuel R. Allen’s career at Deere & Company spanned an extraordinary 45 years, from entry-level industrial engineer in 1975 to Chairman and CEO. He held leadership positions in virtually every major division of the company, giving him unmatched institutional knowledge. Below is his complete career timeline:
Samuel Allen Career Timeline
Samuel Allen joined Deere & Company in 1975, immediately after graduating from Purdue University. He began as an industrial engineer and spent the next quarter-century working across multiple divisions, including the Consumer Products Division, the Worldwide Agricultural Division (overseeing operations in Latin America, China, and East Asia), and the John Deere Power Systems group.
In 2001, Allen became a senior officer of the company, initially heading Human Resources, Industrial Relations, and the global operations of John Deere Credit. By 2003, he was named President of the Deere Power Systems Group, and in 2005, he took on the presidency of the Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division. He also assumed responsibility for Deere’s intelligent mobile equipment technologies and advanced technology and innovation initiatives starting in 2007.
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In June 2009, Allen was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer, and just months later became CEO. He was elected Chairman of the Board in February 2010. During his decade as CEO, Allen guided Deere through the post-recession recovery, accelerated the company’s push into precision agriculture and autonomous technology, and expanded Deere’s global footprint in emerging markets. He stepped down as CEO in November 2019, with John C. May succeeding him, and retired as Chairman in May 2020 after a 45-year career.
Education

Samuel Allen Wiki – Age, Wife, Family, & More
Former John Deere CEO Samuel R. Allen (age approximately 73) was born circa 1953 in Sumter, South Carolina. His father was a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, and the family moved frequently during Allen’s childhood. After a stint in Europe, the Allen family settled near Grissom Air Force Base in Kokomo, Indiana, where Sam spent his formative years.
Allen’s wife, Marsha Allen, is his high school sweetheart. They married in the mid-1970s and have been together for nearly half a century. The couple has two children: a son, Brant (married to Kelly), and a daughter, Maggie (married to Chris). The Allens also have grandchildren.
Allen attended Purdue University as an Evans Scholar — a prestigious full-tuition-and-housing scholarship for deserving golf caddies established by Charles “Chick” Evans. He was also a member of the Purdue Boilermakers men’s golf team, receiving a partial athletic scholarship and becoming a starter in his senior year.
Board Memberships & Philanthropy
- Dow Inc. – Board of Directors member
- Whirlpool Corporation – Board of Directors member (since 2010); member of corporate governance, nominating, and human resources committees
- Council on Competitiveness – Chairman Emeritus
- Purdue University – Donated over $20 million to fund the Ackerman-Allen Clubhouse at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (largest facility gift in Purdue Athletics history)
- Purdue Daniels School of Business – $8 million commitment including $5 million to name a new laboratory and $3 million for the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business directorship
- Purdue Krannert Deanship – Endowed the deanship of the Krannert School of Management
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About Deere & Company (John Deere)
Deere & Company, commonly known as John Deere, is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Moline, Illinois. Founded in 1837 when blacksmith John Deere invented a revolutionary steel plow for Midwest prairie soil, the company has grown over nearly two centuries into the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery and a major producer of construction, forestry, and turf care equipment.
Deere & Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DE. The company operates through approximately 5,000 independent retail dealers in over 160 countries worldwide and employs approximately 73,100 people. Under current Chairman and CEO John C. May, Deere continues to invest heavily in autonomous machinery, artificial intelligence, and precision agriculture technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Samuel Allen of John Deere?
Samuel R. Allen is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deere & Company (John Deere). He served as CEO from 2009 to November 2019 and as Chairman of the Board from 2010 until his retirement in May 2020. Allen spent his entire 45-year career at Deere, joining as an industrial engineer in 1975 and rising through virtually every major division of the company.
What is Samuel Allen’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Samuel Allen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $150–180 million USD. This estimate is primarily based on his disclosed holdings of roughly 358,547 shares of Deere & Co (DE) stock, which are worth over $170 million at current market prices, combined with decades of executive compensation totaling over $150 million during his CEO tenure.
What was John Deere CEO Samuel Allen’s salary?
Samuel Allen’s final full-year total compensation as CEO in fiscal year 2019 was approximately $22 million, including a $1.6 million base salary, $3.8 million in non-equity incentive pay, $9.1 million in stock awards, $3.2 million in option awards, and $3.4 million in pension value changes. Over his decade as CEO, his annual compensation ranged from approximately $14 million to $22 million.
What is John Deere CEO’s email address?
Samuel Allen’s historical corporate email at John Deere was [email protected], though this address may no longer be active since his retirement. The current John Deere CEO, John C. May, can be reached at [email protected]. Deere & Company’s corporate headquarters is at One John Deere Place, Moline, IL 61265, phone (309) 765-8000.
Who is the current CEO of John Deere?
The current Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company (John Deere) is John C. May. May became CEO in November 2019, succeeding Samuel Allen, and was elected Chairman of the Board in May 2020. Under May’s leadership, Deere has continued to invest in precision agriculture, autonomous technology, and sustainability initiatives.
Is John Deere a profitable company?
Yes, John Deere (Deere & Company) is a very profitable company. In fiscal year 2025, the company reported net income of $5.03 billion on total revenue of $45.7 billion, despite a cyclical downturn in the agricultural equipment market. Deere has a market capitalization exceeding $160 billion and trades on the NYSE under the ticker DE, making it one of the most valuable industrial companies in the world.
Article last updated:March 2026March 2, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Samuel Allen retired from Deere & Company in 2020; some contact information may no longer be current.
Last updated: March 2026