Craig DeSanto is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of New York Life Insurance Company, the largest mutual life insurer in the United States. DeSanto became the company’s 19th CEO in April 2022, succeeding Ted Mathas after a remarkable 25-year career entirely at New York Life. A Fellow of the Society of Actuaries who started as a summer actuarial intern in 1997, he was approximately 45 years old when he assumed the CEO role — one of the youngest leaders in New York Life’s 180-year history. Under his leadership, the company has achieved record financial results, including $33.3 billion in surplus and $808 billion in assets under management in 2024.
Read on to discover New York Life CEO email address, Craig DeSanto net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, education, and more.
Craig DeSanto — Quick Facts
| Craig DeSanto — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Craig L. DeSanto |
| Position | Chairman, President & CEO |
| Company | New York Life Insurance Company |
| Age | 49 (born August 1976) |
| Education | B.S., Cornell University; FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries) |
| Salary / Compensation | Not publicly disclosed (mutual company) |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $5–10 Million (estimated) |
| CEO Since | April 16, 2022 |
| Chairman Since | April 15, 2023 |
| Headquarters | 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 |
| [email protected] | |
Career Highlights
- 25+ Years at New York Life: Spent his entire career at the company, rising from summer actuarial intern (1997) to Chairman, President & CEO
- Youngest CEO in Modern History: Became New York Life’s 19th CEO at approximately age 45 — one of the youngest leaders in the company’s 180+ year history
- Record Financial Results: Led the company to record surplus of $33.3 billion and $808 billion in assets under management in 2024
- Largest Acquisition: As President, led New York Life’s largest-ever acquisition of a group life and disability business in 2020
- Record Dividends: Under his leadership, New York Life declared a record $2.78 billion dividend payout for 2026 — the company’s 172nd consecutive annual dividend
- Industry Leadership: Serves on the Executive Committee of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and the Board of Partnership for New York City
Craig DeSanto Net Worth & Salary
As CEO of New York Life — the nation’s largest mutual life insurer — Craig DeSanto’s compensation is not publicly disclosed. New York Life is a mutual company owned by its policyholders, not public shareholders, and is therefore not required to file proxy statements with the SEC. Unlike publicly traded insurance companies where CEO compensation packages are detailed in annual proxy filings, New York Life’s executive pay remains confidential.
Based on industry benchmarks for CEOs of major life insurance companies of similar size and complexity, Craig DeSanto’s estimated net worth is approximately $5–10 million. This estimate takes into account typical base salary, annual bonuses, and long-term incentive compensation for CEOs of the largest mutual insurance companies. His total annual compensation is estimated to be in the range of $8–15 million, which would be consistent with peers at companies managing hundreds of billions in assets.
New York Life CEO Compensation — Industry Context
| Compensation Component | Estimated Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $1.0–1.5M | Typical for mutual insurer CEOs |
| Annual Bonus | $2.0–5.0M | Performance-based; tied to company results |
| Long-Term Incentives | $3.0–8.0M | Deferred compensation plans |
| Benefits & Other | $0.5–1.5M | Retirement, insurance, perquisites |
| Estimated Total | $8–15M | Not publicly confirmed |
Key Insight: New York Life is the largest mutual life insurer in the U.S., managing $431.9 billion in total assets and $808 billion in AUM. As a mutual company, it is owned by policyholders rather than shareholders, meaning executive compensation is not subject to SEC disclosure requirements.
New York Life Financial Summary (2024)
Under Craig DeSanto’s leadership, New York Life has delivered record financial results. The company posted its strongest performance across virtually every key metric in fiscal year 2024, reinforcing its position as America’s premier mutual life insurer.
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Earnings | $3.5B | $3.1B | ▲ +12.9% |
| Surplus (incl. AVR) | $33.3B | $31.9B | ▲ +4.4% |
| Total Assets | $431.9B | $408.9B | ▲ +5.6% |
| Assets Under Management | $808B | $722B | ▲ +11.9% |
| Insurance Premiums | $18.6B | — | — |
| Life Insurance in Force | $1.2T | $1.1T | ▲ +9.1% |
| Insurance Sales | $1.9B | — | Record |
| Policyholder Dividends & Benefits | $17.6B | $16.7B | ▲ +5.4% |
| 2026 Dividend Payout (Declared) | $2.78 Billion | Record — 172nd consecutive year | |
Financial Strength: New York Life holds the highest financial strength ratings from all four major rating agencies — A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s (Aaa), and S&P (AA+). It is the only U.S. life insurer with these top-tier ratings across all agencies.
Craig DeSanto Education & Early Life
Craig DeSanto earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He went on to earn the designation of Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), one of the most rigorous professional credentials in the insurance and financial services industry. He is also a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
His actuarial credentials are relatively rare among CEOs of major financial companies and reflect a deep technical foundation in insurance mathematics, risk assessment, and statistical modeling. DeSanto’s actuarial background has shaped his analytical approach to leadership and strategic decision-making at New York Life.
Craig DeSanto Career Timeline
Craig DeSanto’s career is defined by his remarkable rise through a single company. He joined New York Life as a summer actuarial intern in 1997 and steadily advanced through increasingly senior roles over 25 years before reaching the top position.
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Joined New York Life as Summer Actuarial Intern |
| 1997–2010s | Rose through finance, actuarial, and business operations roles |
| Various years | Led Individual Life Insurance, Institutional Life, and Eagle Strategies (registered investment adviser) |
| January 2017 | Appointed to Executive Management Committee |
| July 2020 | Elected President by Board of Directors; led company’s largest acquisition |
| February 2021 | Elected to Board of Directors |
| November 2021 | Named CEO-Elect |
| April 16, 2022 | Became 19th Chief Executive Officer |
| April 15, 2023–Present | Chairman, President & CEO |
Craig DeSanto Personal Life
Craig DeSanto, age 49 (born August 1976), keeps his personal and family life private. He resides in the New York metropolitan area. In his free time, DeSanto reportedly enjoys traveling, playing golf, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
DeSanto serves on the boards of several prominent organizations, including:
- American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) — Executive Committee member
- Partnership for New York City — Board member
- Business Roundtable — Member
Craig DeSanto Fun Fact
DeSanto started as a summer actuarial intern at New York Life in 1997 and became CEO just 25 years later — one of the fastest rises to the top at a major life insurer. At approximately 45 years old when named CEO, he was one of the youngest leaders in New York Life’s 180-year history. He has never worked at another company, making him one of the rare “single-company” CEOs in the Fortune 100.
How to Contact Craig DeSanto — New York Life CEO Email
Below are the official contact details for New York Life CEO Craig DeSanto:
| Craig DeSanto — Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Email Address | [email protected] |
| Corporate Headquarters | 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 |
| Phone (Corporate) | (212) 576-7000 |
| Website | newyorklife.com |
| Craig DeSanto — Chair, President & CEO at New York Life | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of New York Life?
Craig DeSanto has been CEO of New York Life Insurance Company since April 16, 2022, and Chairman since April 15, 2023. He succeeded Ted Mathas, who had served as CEO since 2008.
How old is Craig DeSanto?
Craig DeSanto was born in August 1976, making him 49 years old as of 2026. He was approximately 45 when he became CEO — one of the youngest leaders in New York Life’s 180-year history.
What is Craig DeSanto’s salary?
Craig DeSanto’s exact salary is not publicly disclosed. New York Life is a mutual company owned by policyholders, not public shareholders, so it is not required to file SEC proxy statements detailing executive compensation. Industry estimates suggest his total compensation is in the range of $8–15 million annually.
What is Craig DeSanto’s net worth?
Craig DeSanto’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5–10 million, based on industry benchmarks for CEOs of major mutual life insurance companies. The exact figure is not publicly available.
Is New York Life publicly traded?
No. New York Life is the nation’s largest mutual life insurer, owned by its policyholders. It was founded in 1845 and has been paying dividends to policyholders for over 170 consecutive years.
What is Craig DeSanto’s email address?
Craig DeSanto’s email address is [email protected]. New York Life’s corporate headquarters is at 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Article last updated: March 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including official company press releases, corporate websites, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source.