Executive Protection in 2026: What the Data Says About Threats to High-Profile Individuals - and What You Can Do About It

Published by Vertex Security Services | February 2026

In August 2025, Joe LaSorsa and his team at LaSorsa & Associates published their EP Incident Analysis covering the first half of the year — one of the most thorough open-source compilations of security incidents targeting high-profile individuals anywhere in the executive protection industry. The findings were sobering but not surprising to anyone paying attention: steady monthly incident volume across more than 40 countries, with verbal and written threats emerging as the leading risk category. LaSorsa's analysis confirmed what executive protection professionals have been warning about for years — the threat environment for prominent individuals is not just persistent, it's accelerating. (The full illustrated report is available through LaSorsa & Associates at lasorsa.com.)

And the data only tells part of the story.

In the months since that report was published, the second half of 2025 delivered some of the most high-profile security incidents in recent memory. In September, conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a public speaking engagement. That same month, a man jumped the fence at Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's Kansas residence while both were home — caught only because their head of executive protection spotted him on camera. In November, an assailant rushed singer Ariana Grande at a premiere event in Singapore. In December, acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were murdered in their own home — allegedly by their own son.

These aren't hypothetical scenarios from a threat briefing. They happened. And they happened to people who, in many cases, already had security measures in place.

If you've been asking yourself whether it's time to take personal security seriously — for yourself, for your family, or for someone you work for — the answer is in the data.

Why Executive Protection Spending Is Surging in Corporate America

The shift in how organizations view executive security has been dramatic. A study published by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance in July 2025, based on Equilar 500 proxy filings, found that 33.8% of executives at the largest U.S. publicly traded companies received at least one security-related perk in 2024 — up from 23.3% in 2020, a 45% increase in just four years. Among CEOs specifically, that number jumped from 29.5% to 43.7%.

The spending tells an even sharper story. Median security compensation for CEOs rose to nearly $78,000 in 2024, up from roughly $51,000 in 2020. Some companies are spending well into seven figures — Broadcom disclosed $1.37 million for its CEO, and UnitedHealth Group reported $1.73 million in security costs for its CEO in 2024, the same year its former CEO, Brian Thompson, was assassinated in Manhattan.

The technology sector led all industries in growth, with a 73.5% increase in executive security spending over the period. And it's no longer just the CEO who gets a detail — companies are increasingly extending executive protection services to CFOs, board members, and other C-suite executives.

According to ASIS International's 2025 executive protection survey, 42% of security professionals said EP is getting significantly more emphasis at their organizations than it was two years ago, with the top reasons being increases in public threats and high-profile incidents in the news.

The executive protection services market reflects this reality. Industry analysts project the global market will grow at roughly 8–10% annually through the end of the decade, driven by rising threats against high-net-worth individuals, expanding corporate security budgets, and the convergence of physical and digital risk.

The Real Threats Facing High-Profile Individuals in 2025–2026

What makes today's threat environment particularly dangerous is the diversity of attack vectors. The LaSorsa team's analysis and the monthly TorchStone Executive Protection Reports throughout 2025 documented a broad and evolving range of security incidents.

Home Invasions and Residential Targeting

Residential targeting remains one of the most persistent vulnerabilities for high-profile individuals. In June 2025, three burglars broke into Brad Pitt's Los Angeles home by scaling a fence and smashing a window. In September, a thief drove off in Charlize Theron's car after entering through an open gate. In November, former NBA player Christian Wood fired warning shots at three men attempting a daylight home invasion in Sherman Oaks. In December, burglars stole over $60,000 worth of property from WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu's home by smashing an unprotected glass door.

These aren't random burglaries. High-profile individuals are selected because their wealth is visible, their addresses are often discoverable through public records, and their travel schedules are frequently advertised on social media.

Stalking, Harassment, and Fixation-Based Threats

From Taylor Swift to Cindy Crawford to a Minneapolis city council member, restraining orders against obsessive individuals were a near-weekly occurrence in 2025. A man who threatened to kill a KKR executive traveled from Texas to deliver the threat in person — and had a prior history of showing up at KKR offices to confront leadership.

Stalking and fixation-based threats are among the most dangerous because they tend to escalate over time. What begins as unwanted contact can progress to surveillance, property intrusion, and physical violence.

Swatting Attacks

Swatting — the act of making a false emergency report to trigger an armed law enforcement response at someone's home — targeted Gordon Ramsay, Nicki Minaj, and a county councilwoman ahead of a legislative vote, among dozens of others in 2025. These incidents create real physical danger and significant psychological distress for victims and their families.

Politically Motivated and Workplace Threats

Politically motivated threats intensified throughout the year, with lawmakers across multiple states reporting waves of threats, including swatting attacks on their homes and bomb threats targeting their businesses. In the corporate world, executives involved in layoffs, controversial decisions, or public-facing roles increasingly face targeted harassment — both online and in person.

Threats From Within the Circle of Trust

Perhaps most chillingly, threats from within the principal's own circle proved lethal in 2025. The Reiner murders and multiple kidnapping incidents involving family associates underscore that not every threat comes from the outside. Effective executive protection accounts for all vectors, including those closest to the principal.

Who Actually Needs Executive Protection?

There is a persistent misconception that executive protection is only for celebrities and heads of state — that it's a luxury reserved for the ultra-famous. The reality is far different, and the universe of people who benefit from professional security services is broader than most realize.

You may need executive protection if you are a business owner or executive who has been involved in a contentious termination, lawsuit, or public controversy. Or an attorney handling a high-profile or emotionally charged case. A real estate developer navigating community opposition. A physician dealing with a fixated patient. A family managing a high-value estate, a custody dispute, or a public inheritance situation. A public-facing professional — from elected officials to social media personalities — whose visibility has outgrown their personal security measures.

You don't have to be famous to be targeted. You just have to be visible to the wrong person at the wrong time.

The other common misconception is that executive protection means a large man in a suit standing behind you at dinner. Modern executive protection is intelligence-driven. It starts with understanding the specific threat landscape around a principal, conducting advance work on locations and routes, managing digital exposure, hardening residential security, and building layered security protocols that reduce risk without disrupting daily life.

How to Know It's Time to Hire Executive Protection

If you're researching executive protection services — whether for yourself, for an executive you support, or for a family member — there are some clear indicators that the conversation is overdue.

You've received a threat — verbal, written, or online — and you're not sure how serious it is. Verbal and written threats were the leading risk category in LaSorsa's H1 2025 analysis. Most individuals and organizations have no formal process for documenting, assessing, and responding to threats — which means the warning signs that precede an attack go unrecognized.

Your home security hasn't been professionally assessed. Residential targeting was the most common venue for EP incidents in 2025. A consumer-grade alarm system and a camera doorbell are not a security posture. A professional threat and vulnerability assessment evaluates physical access points, lighting, landscaping sightlines, camera placement and coverage gaps, alarm system integration, safe room options, and response protocols.

Your daily patterns are predictable and your digital footprint is exposed. Social media posts, tagged event photos, real-time location sharing, public property records, and corporate filings can all be used to map your movements and vulnerabilities. A digital risk assessment identifies what an adversary can learn about you from open sources alone — and it is often the most eye-opening step in the executive protection process.

The people around you don't know what to do in an emergency. Your family, your executive assistant, your household staff — do they know who to call, what to say, and how to respond if something goes wrong? Most don't. Building an emergency action plan is one of the most cost-effective security measures available, and it requires no ongoing personnel.

You travel frequently for business, particularly internationally. Travel is when routines are disrupted, unfamiliar environments create blind spots, and the principal is most exposed. Secure transportation, advance route planning, and travel risk assessments are core components of modern executive protection services.

You're a family member or executive assistant who has a bad feeling. Trust it. In our experience, it is often the EA, chief of staff, or a concerned spouse who first recognizes that the current security posture isn't enough. The people closest to the principal see the gaps that the principal either doesn't notice or chooses to ignore.

What to Look for in an Executive Protection Company

Not all executive protection providers are equal, and the industry ranges from elite, intelligence-driven firms to individuals with little more than a concealed carry permit and a dark suit. If you are evaluating executive protection companies, here are the factors that matter.

Personnel backgrounds. Look for teams with verifiable experience in military special operations, federal law enforcement, or certified close protection programs. Ask about specific training credentials and operational experience — not just years in "the security industry."

Threat assessment capability. Any firm can put a body next to your principal. The better question is whether they can identify the threat before it arrives. Look for providers that offer protective intelligence, digital risk assessments, and formal threat and vulnerability evaluations.

Scalability. Your needs may range from a single consultation to a full-time protective detail to large-scale event security. The right firm can scale from one to all three without subcontracting to unknown operators.

Local knowledge combined with national reach. An executive protection provider who knows the terrain — from the local law enforcement relationships to the physical geography — will always outperform a fly-in team operating blind.

Discretion. Effective executive protection is invisible. If the security operation draws more attention than the principal, something is wrong.

Vertex Security Services: Executive Protection for an Evolving Threat Environment

Vertex Security Services delivers executive protection programs informed by military-grade operational planning and real-world threat intelligence. Our team brings backgrounds in Army Special Forces, law enforcement, and certified close protection — professionals who have operated in high-threat environments and understand that effective security is built on preparation, not reaction.

We provide the full spectrum of executive protection services: threat and vulnerability assessments for residences and workplaces, advance work and secure transportation, protective intelligence and digital exposure analysis, travel security planning, and trained protection details for individuals and families. Whether the engagement is a single-day event, a domestic travel itinerary, or an ongoing protective program, we scale our approach to the principal's risk profile and lifestyle.

We also bring something most national firms cannot: deep local knowledge of Colorado's mountain communities combined with the operational capability to deploy anywhere in the country. Based in Aspen but covering from New York to California, our team has provided executive protection at the highest levels — including large-scale conference security operations for Fortune 100 companies.

The threats documented in 2025 are not going away. They're evolving. The only question is whether your security posture is evolving with them.

If you're researching executive protection for the first time, or if you know it's time to upgrade what you have, we'd welcome the conversation. Whether you're a business leader, a family member with concerns, or an executive assistant taking the first step on someone else's behalf — the call is confidential and there is no obligation.

Contact Vertex Security Services to start the conversation.

📞 970-989-4610 📧 admin@vertexsecurityservices.com 🌐 www.vertexsecurityservices.com 📍 P.O. Box 8604, Aspen, CO

Frequently Asked Questions About Executive Protection

What is executive protection? Executive protection is a specialized security service designed to mitigate risks to individuals who face elevated threats due to their wealth, public visibility, profession, or personal circumstances. Unlike traditional security guards, executive protection agents are trained in threat assessment, advance planning, secure transportation, surveillance detection, and emergency response. The goal is to prevent incidents before they occur through intelligence-driven planning rather than simply reacting to events.

How much does executive protection cost? Executive protection costs vary widely depending on the scope of services, the threat level, and the duration of the engagement. A one-time threat and vulnerability assessment for a residence may cost a few thousand dollars, while a full-time protective detail can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars per day depending on the number of agents, travel requirements, and operational complexity. Many engagements fall between these extremes — for example, secure transportation for a specific trip, advance work for a public appearance, or a comprehensive digital risk assessment.

Do I need executive protection if I'm not a celebrity? Yes. The majority of executive protection clients are not celebrities. They are business owners, corporate executives, attorneys, physicians, real estate developers, high-net-worth families, and individuals navigating situations that have created personal risk — from contentious business disputes to custody cases to public controversies. If someone has a reason to target you and the ability to find you, your risk profile may warrant professional security services regardless of your public profile.

What is a threat and vulnerability assessment? A threat and vulnerability assessment (TVA) is a professional evaluation of the security posture around a person, residence, workplace, or travel itinerary. It identifies physical vulnerabilities such as access points, lighting, and camera gaps, as well as procedural weaknesses like the lack of emergency protocols or poor visitor management. It also evaluates digital exposure including public records, social media footprint, and data broker listings. The result is a prioritized set of recommendations tailored to the client's risk profile and lifestyle.

What should I do if I've received a threat? Document it immediately — save screenshots, voicemails, emails, or any physical evidence. Do not engage with the individual making the threat. Report the threat to local law enforcement. Then contact a professional executive protection or threat management firm to conduct a formal threat assessment. Many threats do not result in violence, but determining which ones are credible requires professional expertise. The worst course of action is to ignore a threat and hope it goes away.

Can an executive assistant or family member arrange executive protection on someone's behalf? Absolutely. It is extremely common for executive assistants, chiefs of staff, office managers, or family members to initiate the conversation. In many cases, the principal is either too busy or too resistant to take the first step themselves. A reputable executive protection firm will work with the person making the inquiry to understand the situation, conduct an initial assessment, and develop a recommendation that can be presented to the principal.

What is the difference between a bodyguard and executive protection? A bodyguard typically provides reactive, physical security — standing near the principal and responding to threats as they occur. Executive protection is a broader, intelligence-driven discipline that includes threat assessment, advance planning, route security, digital risk management, residential hardening, travel security, and coordination with law enforcement. The objective of executive protection is to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, not simply to respond after the fact.

How do I choose the right executive protection company? Look for firms with personnel who have verifiable backgrounds in military special operations, law enforcement, or certified close protection programs. Evaluate whether they offer threat and vulnerability assessments, protective intelligence, and digital risk analysis — not just physical presence. Ask about their scalability, their familiarity with your geographic area, and their approach to discretion. The best executive protection firms will conduct an initial consultation before recommending a scope of services, rather than selling a one-size-fits-all package.

Vertex Security Services is a woman-owned, Colorado-based security company headquartered in Aspen, providing executive protection, armed security, school security, event security, and threat vulnerability assessments nationwide.

We gratefully acknowledge Joe LaSorsa and the team at LaSorsa & Associates for their EP Incident Analysis, which informed portions of this article. Their continued commitment to open-source intelligence sharing strengthens the entire executive protection community.