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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION

1 Monster Way

Corona, California 92879

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD JUNE 2, 2014

April 21, 2014

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Monster Beverage Corporation (the “Company”) to be held on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. local time, at our corporate offices, located at 1 Monster Way, Corona, California 92879 (the “Annual Meeting”). This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.

In addition to the specific matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting that are listed in the accompanying notice, there will be a report on the Company’s business and an opportunity for stockholders of the Company to ask questions.

We are pleased to take advantage of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule that allows companies to furnish proxy materials to their stockholders over the Internet. As a result, we are mailing to our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a paper copy of this proxy statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. We believe this process allows us to provide our stockholders with the information they need in a timely manner, while reducing the environmental impact and lowering costs of printing and distributing our proxy materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet.  The Notice also contains instructions on how to request a paper copy of our proxy materials, including this proxy statement, our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and a form of proxy card or voting instruction card.

I hope that you will be able to join us. Your vote is important to us and to our business. I encourage you to vote by telephone, over the Internet, or if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy card so that your shares will be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting, whether or not you plan to attend.  If you attend the Annual Meeting, you will, of course, have the right to revoke the proxy and vote your shares in person.

The proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, are being distributed and made available on or about April 21, 2014.

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TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Monster Beverage Corporation (“Monster” or the “Company”) will be held on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. local time, at the Company’s corporate offices, located at 1 Monster Way, Corona, California 92879 (the “Annual Meeting”), for the following purposes:

1.         To elect eight directors to serve until the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company;

2.         To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014;

3.         To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers;

4.         To consider a stockholder proposal regarding an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents to require majority voting for the election of directors, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting (the “Majority Voting Proposal”);

5.         To consider a stockholder proposal regarding board nominee requirements, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting (the “Board Diversity Proposal”); and

6.         To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders accompanying this Notice. Only stockholders of the Company of record at the close of business on April 9, 2014 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

We will make available a list of stockholders as of the close of business on April 9, 2014 for inspection by stockholders during normal business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, from May 19, 2014 through May 30, 2014, at the Company’s executive offices, 1 Monster Way, Corona, CA 92879. This list will also be available to stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

All stockholders of the Company are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.  However, to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote by telephone, over the Internet, or if you requested to receive printed proxy materials, by marking, signing, dating and returning your proxy card.  You may revoke your voted proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting or vote in person if you attend the Annual Meeting.

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IMPORTANT:  WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO VOTE YOUR SHARES AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.  IN ADDITION TO VOTING IN PERSON, STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD MAY VOTE VIA A TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER OR OVER THE INTERNET AS INSTRUCTED IN THESE MATERIALS.  IF YOU REQUESTED TO RECEIVE A PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD BY MAIL, YOU MAY ALSO VOTE BY MARKING, SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE RETURN ENVELOPE PROVIDED.  PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD BY A BROKER OR OTHER INTERMEDIARY AND YOU WISH TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, YOU MUST OBTAIN A LEGAL PROXY FORM FROM THAT RECORD HOLDER.

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General

The Board of Directors of Monster Beverage Corporation (“Monster” or the “Company”) is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. local time, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company.  The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company’s executive offices located at 1 Monster Way, Corona, California 92879.  In this proxy, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we”, “our”, or “us” refer to Monster.

The proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, are being distributed and made available on or about April 21, 2014. This proxy statement contains important information for you to consider when deciding how to vote on matters brought before the Annual Meeting. Please read it carefully.

Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

In accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we have elected to provide our stockholders access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) will be mailed on or about April 21, 2014 to our stockholders who owned the Company’s common stock, par value $0.005 per share (the “Common Stock”), at the close of business on April 9, 2014. Stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice, or request that a printed set of the proxy materials be sent to them by following the instructions in the Notice.

Householding

If you are a beneficial owner, your bank or broker may deliver a single proxy statement, along with individual proxy cards, or individual Notices to any household at which two or more stockholders reside unless contrary instructions have been received from you. This procedure, referred to as householding, reduces the volume of duplicate materials shareholders receive and reduces mailing expenses. Stockholders may revoke their consent to future householding mailings or enroll in householding by contacting American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC, 1-800-937-5449, or by writing to American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219.  Alternatively, if you wish to receive a separate set of proxy materials for this year’s Annual Meeting, we will deliver them promptly upon request to Monster Beverage Corporation, 1 Monster Way, Corona, CA 92879 or by calling (951) 739-6200 or (800) 426-7367.

Record Date, Outstanding Voting Securities

Holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on April 9, 2014 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Each share entitles its holder to one vote. As of the record date, 167,076,394 shares of our Common Stock were issued and outstanding. There are no other outstanding voting securities of the Company.

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Quorum

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of one-third of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.  Such stockholders are counted as present at the Annual Meeting if they (i) are present in person at the Annual Meeting or (ii) have properly submitted their vote by telephone, over the Internet, or by returning their proxy card. Abstentions and withheld votes will be counted for determining whether a quorum is present for the Annual Meeting.

Required Vote

In accordance with the Company’s by-laws:

·                 Directors are elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast in person or by proxy by the holders of shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in the election at the Annual Meeting (subject to resignation in accordance with the Company’s director resignation policy as further described in “Proposal One - Election of Directors”);

·                 The ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm shall be by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting;

·                 The approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers shall be by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting (the “Say-on-Pay Proposal”);

·                 The approval of a stockholder proposal regarding the amendment of our organizational documents to require majority voting for the election of directors, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting, shall be by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting; and

·                 The approval of a stockholder proposal regarding board nominee requirements, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting, shall be by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast on the proposal in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting

in each case, provided a quorum is present.  Thus, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be included in vote totals and will have no effect on the outcome of any of these votes.

Non-Discretionary Proposals

If you are a beneficial owner and hold your shares in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with voting instructions, the broker or other intermediary will determine if it has the discretionary authority to vote on the particular matter. Brokers and other intermediaries may not vote uninstructed shares in (i) the election of directors, (ii) the approval of the Say-on-Pay Proposal, (iii) the approval of the Majority Voting Proposal, and (iv) the approval of the Board Diversity Proposal. If your shares are held by a broker or other intermediary and you do not instruct your broker or other intermediary how to vote for each of these proposals, no votes will be cast on your behalf. Therefore, it is important that you cast your vote if you want it to count for each of these proposals.

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Discretionary Proposals

Brokers that do not receive instructions are entitled to vote on the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm.

No stockholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes.  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“AST”) will receive and tabulate the proxies.

Board of Directors’ Recommendations

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) recommends a vote:

·                 “FOR” each of the nominees to the Board (Proposal One);

·                 “FOR” the ratification of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accountants for fiscal year 2014 (Proposal Two);

·                 “FOR”, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal Three);

·                 “AGAINST” the stockholder proposal regarding majority voting for the election of directors (Proposal Four); and

·                 “AGAINST” the stockholder proposal regarding board nominee requirements (Proposal Five).

How to Vote

If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, AST, you are considered a stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and the Notice was sent to you directly by the Company. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the Company or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

If your shares are held in a brokerage account, bank, broker-dealer, trust or similar organization, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of those shares held in street name, and the Notice was forwarded to you by that organization. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other intermediary how to vote your shares, and you are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is very important to us and we hope that you will attend the Annual Meeting. However, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote by proxy in accordance with the instructions on your proxy card, voting instruction form (from your broker or other intermediary), or the instructions that you received through electronic mail. There are three convenient ways of submitting your vote:

·                 By Telephone or Internet - All stockholders of record can vote by touchtone telephone from the U.S. using the toll free telephone number on the proxy card, or over the Internet, using the procedures and instructions described on the proxy card. Beneficial owners may vote by telephone or Internet if their broker or other intermediary makes those methods available, in which case the broker or other intermediary will enclose the instructions with the proxy materials. The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to vote their shares, and to confirm that their instructions have been recorded properly.

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·                 In Person - All stockholders of record may vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Beneficial owners may vote in person at the Annual Meeting if their broker or other intermediary has furnished a legal proxy. If you are a beneficial owner and would like to vote your shares by proxy, you will need to ask your broker or other intermediary to furnish you with a legal proxy.  You will need to bring the legal proxy with you to the Annual Meeting and hand it in with a signed ballot that will be provided to you at the Annual Meeting. You will not be able to vote your shares without a legal proxy.

·                 By Written Proxy - All stockholders of record can vote by written proxy card, if they have requested to receive printed proxy materials. If you are a beneficial holder and you requested to receive printed proxy materials, you will receive a written proxy card and a voting instruction form from your broker or other intermediary.

Revocability of Proxies

If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting by: (i) delivering a written notice of revocation to our Secretary at our principal executive offices; (ii) voting again over the Internet or by telephone (only your latest Internet or telephone proxy submitted prior to the Annual Meeting will be counted) or, if you requested and received written proxy materials, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date; or (iii) by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

If you are a beneficial owner, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the Annual Meeting by: (i) submitting new voting instructions to your broker or other intermediary; or (ii) if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker or other intermediary, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

Solicitation

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. The Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners.  In addition to solicitation by use of the mail or via the Internet, proxies may also be solicited by certain of the Company’s directors, officers and regular employees, without additional compensation, personally or by telephone, facsimile or letter. In addition, the Company has engaged D.F. King & Co., Inc. to act as its proxy solicitor and has agreed to pay approximately $8,000.00 plus reasonable expenses for such services.

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth, as of the most recent practical date, April 3, 2014 (unless otherwise noted below), the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock of (a) those persons known to the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock; (b) each of the Company’s directors and nominees for director; (c) the Company’s named executive officers; and (d) all of the Company’s current directors and executive officers as a group. In computing the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned by each person, we include any shares of Common Stock that could be acquired within 60 days of April 3, 2014 by the exercise of options or the vesting of restricted stock units. Such shares, however, are not counted in computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

Officers and Directors as a group (9 members: 23,905,741 shares or 13.7% in aggregate).

* Except as noted otherwise, the address for each of the named stockholders is 1 Monster Way, Corona, California 92879.

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** Less than 1%.

1 The mailing address of Brandon Limited Partnership No. 1 (“Brandon No. 1”) is 56 Conduit Street, London W1S 2YZ England. The general partners of Brandon No. 1 are Rodney C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg.

2 The mailing address of Brandon Limited Partnership No. 2 (“Brandon No. 2”) is 56 Conduit Street, London W1S 2YZ England. The general partners of Brandon No. 2 are Rodney C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg.

3Based on Schedule 13G, filed August 5, 2013 by Sterling Trustees LLC, based on Common Stock held on July 25, 2013. The mailing address of this reporting person is 201 S. Phillips Avenue, Suite 222, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.

4Based on Schedule 13G/A, filed February 14, 2014 by FMR LLC, based on Common Stock held on December 31, 2013. The mailing address of this reporting person is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210.

5Based on Schedule 13G, filed February 14, 2014 by Wellington Management Company, LLP, based on Common Stock held on December 31, 2013. The mailing address of this reporting person is 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.

6Based on Schedule 13G, filed February 11, 2014 by The Vanguard Group, based on Common Stock held on December 31, 2013. The mailing address of this reporting person is 100 Vanguard Blvd, Malvern, PA 19355.

7 Includes 1,585,901 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Sacks; 1,881,856 shares beneficially held by Brandon No. 1 because Mr. Sacks is one of Brandon No. 1’s general partners; 9,815,648 shares beneficially held by Brandon No. 2 because Mr. Sacks is one of Brandon No. 2’s general partners; 4 shares beneficially held by HRS Holdings, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of HRS Holdings’ general partners; 4 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings’ general partners; 184,924 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s general partners; 71,428 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; 257,900 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general partners; 40,072 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VII’s general partners; 189,528 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general partners; 453,740 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IX’s general partners; 92,332 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; 168,414 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general partners; 170,356 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XII’s general partners; 77,121 shares beneficially held by the Rodney C. Sacks 2009 GRAT #2 because Mr. Sacks is the co-trustee of the Rodney C. Sacks 2009 GRAT #2; 45,856 shares beneficially held by the RCS Direct 2010 GRAT because Mr. Sacks is the co-trustee of the RCS Direct 2010 GRAT;  and 6,685 shares beneficially held by the RCS Direct 2010 GRAT #2 because Mr. Sacks is the co-trustee of the RCS Direct 2010 GRAT #2. Also includes options presently exercisable to purchase 1,904,890 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 2,400,000 shares, exercisable at $3.29 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 23, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Sacks; options presently exercisable to purchase 960,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 1,200,000 shares, exercisable at $8.44 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated November 11, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Sacks; options presently exercisable to purchase 326,304 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 800,000 shares, exercisable at $15.86 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 2, 2008 between the Company and Mr. Sacks; and options presently exercisable to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 500,000 shares, exercisable at $17.82 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2009 between the Company and Mr. Sacks. On January 31, 2014, Mr. Sacks pledged 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Mr. Sacks disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares deemed beneficially owned by him hereunder except (i) 1,585,901 shares of Common Stock; (ii) 3,461,194 shares presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days under the stock option agreements; (iii) 1,849 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s general partners; (iv) 714 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; (v) 2,579 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general partners; (vi) 401 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VII’s general partners; (vii) 1,895 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general partners; (viii) 4,537 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings IX’s general partners; (ix) 923 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings X,

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L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; (x) 1,684 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general partners; and (xi) 1,704 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Sacks is one of Hilrod Holdings XII’s general partners.

8 Includes 1,436,095 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Schlosberg; 1,881,856 shares beneficially held by Brandon No. 1 because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Brandon No. 1’s general partners; 9,815,648 shares beneficially held by Brandon No. 2 because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Brandon No. 2’s general partners; 4 shares beneficially held by HRS Holdings, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of HRS Holdings’ general partners; 4 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings’ general partners; 184,924 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s general partners; 71,428 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; 257,900 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general partners; 40,072 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VII’s general partners; 189,528 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general partners; 453,740 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings IX’s general partners; 92,332 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; 168,414 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general partners; 170,356 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XII’s general partners; 30,068 shares beneficially held by the Rodney C. Sacks 2008 GRAT #2 because Mr. Schlosberg is the co-trustee of the Rodney C. Sacks 2008 GRAT #2; and 102,828 shares beneficially held by the RCS Direct 2011 GRAT because Mr. Schlosberg is the trustee of the RCS Direct 2011 GRAT.  Also includes options presently exercisable to purchase 1,904,890 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 2,400,000 shares, exercisable at $3.29 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 23, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg; options presently exercisable to purchase 960,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 1,200,000 shares, exercisable at $8.44 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated November 11, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg; options presently exercisable to purchase 326,304 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 800,000 shares, exercisable at $15.86 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 2, 2008 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg; and options presently exercisable to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 500,000 shares, exercisable at $17.82 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2009 between the Company and Mr. Schlosberg. On January 31, 2014, Mr. Schlosberg pledged 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Mr. Schlosberg disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares deemed beneficially owned by him hereunder except (i) 1,436,095 shares of Common Stock; (ii) 3,461,194 shares presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days under the stock option agreements; (iii) 1,849 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IV, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings IV’s general partners; (vi) 714 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings V, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings V’s general partners; (vii) 2,579 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VI, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VI’s general partners; (viii) 401 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VII’s general partners; (ix) 1,895 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings VIII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings VIII’s general partners; (x) 4,537 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings IX, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings IX’s general partners; (xi) 923 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings X, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings X’s general partners; (xii) 1,684 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XI, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XI’s general partners; and (xiii) 1,704 shares beneficially held by Hilrod Holdings XII, L.P. because Mr. Schlosberg is one of Hilrod Holdings XII’s general partners.

9 Includes 258,936 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Hall; options presently exercisable to purchase 80,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 400,000 shares, exercisable at $17.82 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2009 between the Company and Mr. Hall; options presently exercisable to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 100,000 shares, exercisable at $26.26 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2010 between the Company and Mr. Hall; and options presently exercisable to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 100,000 shares, exercisable at $47.13 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Hall.

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10 Includes options presently exercisable to purchase 8,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 40,000 shares, exercisable at $15.86 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 2, 2008 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days to purchase 8,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 20,000 shares, exercisable at $18.07 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 1, 2009 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to purchase 4,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 20,000 shares, exercisable at $17.82 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2009 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; options presently exercisable to purchase 4,000 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 20,000 shares, exercisable at $26.26 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated December 1, 2010 between the Company and Mr. Kelly; and options presently exercisable to purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 15,000 shares, exercisable at $47.13 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated March 14, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Kelly.

11 Includes 16,400 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Selati; and 2,198 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated May 31, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Selati.

12 Includes 1,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Epstein; 8,000 shares beneficially held by Shoreland Investments because Mr. Epstein is one of Shoreland Investment’s general partners; and 2,198 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated May 31, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Epstein.

13 Includes 10,665 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Taber;  options presently exercisable to purchase 38,400 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 38,400 shares, exercisable at $8.44 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated November 11, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Taber; options presently exercisable to purchase 4,334 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 4,334 shares, exercisable at $19.20 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 9, 2010 between the Company and Mr. Taber; options presently exercisable to purchase 2,590 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 2,590 shares, exercisable at $34.06 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated May 18, 2011 between the Company and Mr. Taber; and 2,198 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated May 31, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Taber.

14 Includes 2,665 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Polk; options presently exercisable to purchase 4,334 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 4,334 shares, exercisable at $19.20 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 9, 2010 between the Company and Mr. Polk; options presently exercisable to purchase 2,590 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 2,590 shares, exercisable at $34.06 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated May 18, 2011 between the Company and Mr. Polk; and 2,198 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated May 31, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Polk.

15 Includes 2,665 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Vidergauz; options presently exercisable to purchase 6,600 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 38,400 shares, exercisable at $8.44 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated November 11, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Vidergauz; options presently exercisable to purchase 4,334 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 4,334 shares, exercisable at $19.20 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated June 9, 2010 between the Company and Mr. Vidergauz; options presently exercisable to purchase 2,590 shares of Common Stock, out of options to purchase a total of 2,590 shares, exercisable at $34.06 per share, granted pursuant to a stock option agreement dated May 18, 2011 between the Company and Mr. Vidergauz; and 2,198 restricted stock units granted pursuant to a restricted stock unit agreement dated May 31, 2013 between the Company and Mr. Vidergauz.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) requires the Company’s directors, executive officers, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file by specific dates with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of equity securities of the Company. Directors, executive officers, and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. The Company is required to report in this proxy statement any failure of its

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directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent stockholders to file by the relevant due date any of these reports during the most recent fiscal year or prior fiscal years.

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of copies of such reports furnished to the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to the Company’s directors, executive officers and greater than ten percent stockholders were complied with.

DEADLINES FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

Stockholders may present a proper proposal for consideration at the 2015 annual meeting of stockholders by submitting their proposal in writing to the Office of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices in a timely manner.

For stockholders who wish to present a proposal to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and for consideration at the 2015 annual meeting, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, the proposal must be delivered to the Office of the Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices no later than December 19, 2014. Stockholder proposals must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act.

For stockholders who wish to present a proposal for nominations or other business for consideration at the 2015 annual meeting, but who do not intend for the proposal to be included in our proxy statement, pursuant to the advance notice provisions contained in our by-laws, the proposal must be delivered to the Office of the Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices no earlier than February 2, 2015 and no later than March 4, 2015, provided, however, that in the event that the date of the 2015 annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered no earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the 2015 annual meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the nineteenth day prior to the 2015 annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2015 annual meeting is first made by the Company.

It is presently intended that the 2015 annual meeting will be held in June 2015.

Proposals should be sent to the Office of the Secretary by mail to Monster Beverage Corporation, 1 Monster Way, Corona, California, 92879.

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PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

The Board is currently comprised of eight members, each of whom is a director nominee to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the Company’s eight nominees named below.  In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee designated by the present Board to fill the vacancy. The Company is not aware of any nominee who will be unable or expects to decline to serve as a director. The term of office of each person elected as a director will continue until the 2015 annual meeting or until a successor has been elected and qualified.

The Board has a director resignation policy. This policy provides that, in an uncontested election, any incumbent director nominee who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her election than votes “FOR” his or her election must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the election results. The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Nominating Committee”) will review the circumstances surrounding the election and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation. The Board must act on the tendered resignation. If such resignation is rejected, the Board must publicly disclose its decision, together with the rationale supporting its decision, within 90 days after certification of the election results. A copy of the director resignation policy is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance. cfm.

The names of the nominees, and certain biographical information about them, are set forth below.

1 Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

2 Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

3 Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

4 Member of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors.

5 Lead Independent Director.

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Each of our directors brings extensive management and leadership experience gained through their service in our industry and other diverse businesses. In these roles, they have assumed day-to-day leadership or other senior leadership responsibilities. In addition, most current directors bring board experience acquired by either significant experience on other boards or long service on our Board of Directors that broadens their knowledge of board policies and processes, rules and regulations, issues and solutions. The Nominating Committee’s process for selecting and nominating qualified director candidates is described under the section entitled “Nominating Committee.” In the paragraphs below, we describe specific individual qualifications and skills of our directors that contribute to the overall effectiveness of our Board of Directors and its committees.

Rodney C. Sacks – Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company from November 1990 to the present.  Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Executive Committee”) since October 1992.  Chairman of the Board of Directors and a Director of Monster Energy Company (“MEC”) from June 1992 to the present.  Mr. Sacks has led the Company for over 24 years and has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. Mr. Sacks has detailed knowledge and valuable perspective and insights regarding our business and has responsibility for development and implementation of our business strategy.

Hilton H. Schlosberg – Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary, and a Director of the Company from November 1990 to the present.  Chief Financial Officer of the Company since July 1996. Member of the Executive Committee since October 1992. Vice Chairman, Secretary and a Director of MEC from July 1992 to the present. Mr. Schlosberg has held senior leadership positions with the Company for over 24 years, has been the Company’s CFO for 18 years and has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. Mr. Schlosberg has detailed knowledge and valuable perspective and insights regarding our business and has responsibility for development and implementation of our business strategy. Mr. Schlosberg has a high level of financial literacy and his day-to-day supervision of business operations brings valuable insight to our Board of Directors.

Mark J. Hall – Director of the Company and Chief Brand Officer of MEC since January 2014. Mr. Hall joined MEC in 1997 and was formerly the President of the Monster Beverage Division.  Prior to joining MEC, Mr. Hall was employed by the Arizona Beverage Co. as Vice President of Sales, where he was responsible for sales and distribution of Arizona products through a national network of beer distributors and soft drink bottlers in the United States. Mr. Hall has detailed knowledge and valuable perspective and insights regarding both our business and the beverage business in general.

Benjamin M. Polk – Director of the Company since November 1990.  Assistant Secretary of MEC since October 1992 and a Director of MEC since July 1992. Partner with Veritas Capital, a private equity firm, since July 2011. Director of Aeroflex Holding Corp. from November 2012 to the present.  Director of CPI International, Inc. from October 2012 to the present. Director, Truven Health Analytics, Inc. from October 2012 to the present. Mr. Polk was a partner with the law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP from May 2004 to July 2011 and prior to that, a partner with the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP, where Mr. Polk practiced law with that firm and its predecessor firm, from August 1976 to May 2004. Mr. Polk has gained detailed knowledge of the Company during his service as a director since 1990 and as outside counsel from 1990 to July 2011. Mr. Polk has extensive experience in matters relating to mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance.

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Norman C. Epstein – Director of the Company and member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company  (the “Compensation Committee”) since June 1992, member of the Nominating Committee since September 2004 and Chairman and member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Audit Committee”) since September 1997. Mr. Epstein is currently the Chairman of the Audit and Compensation Committees. Director of MEC since July 1992. Managing Director of Cheval Property Finance PLC, a mortgage finance company based in London, England from 1997 to 2006.  Director of Clermont Consultants UK Ltd. from 1997 to April 2013. Director of Spring Finance UK, a UK mortgage lender from July 2012 to the present. Partner with Moore Stephens, an international accounting firm, from 1974 to December 1996 (senior partner beginning 1989 and the managing partner of Moore Stephens, New York from 1993 until 1995). Mr. Epstein has a strong background in accounting and finance as well as substantial experience in public company accounting.  Mr. Epstein has substantial experience serving on boards, both the Company’s and others, and has experience in other industries, which allows him to bring additional perspective to our Board of Directors. Mr. Epstein is a Chartered Accountant (UK).

Sydney Selati – Director of the Company and member of the Audit Committee since September 2004, member of the Compensation Committee since March 2007 and member of the Nominating Committee since April 2009. Mr. Selati has been a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation since July 2010. Mr. Selati was a director of Barbeques Galore Ltd. from 1997 to 2005 and was President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Galore Group (U.S.A.), Inc. from 1988 to 2005. Mr. Selati was president of Sussex Group Limited from 1984 to 1988.  Mr. Selati has extensive experience as a chief executive and board member of companies in other industries, which allows him to bring additional perspective to our Board of Directors. Mr. Selati is a Chartered Accountant (South Africa).

Harold C. Taber, Jr. – Director of the Company since July 1992, member of the Audit Committee since April 2000, member of the Compensation Committee since April 2009 and member of the Nominating Committee since September 2004. Mr. Taber was appointed by the Board of Directors to be Chairman of the Nominating Committee in April 2009. Mr. Taber worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles in various positions, including Group President, West Region, from 1976 to 1987. President and Chief Executive Officer of MEC from July 1992 to June 1997. Consultant for The Joseph Company from October 1997 to March 1999 and for Costa Macaroni Manufacturing Company from July 2000 to January 2002. Executive Assistant to the Dean at the Biola University School of Business from July 2002 to the present. Mr. Taber has extensive knowledge of the Company’s historical and current operations, and brings leadership and management skills to the Board.

Mark S. Vidergauz – Director of the Company and member of the Compensation Committee since June 1998, member of the Audit Committee from April 2000 through May 2004, and Lead Independent Director since March 2014.  Chief Executive Officer of The Sage Group LLC, an investment banking firm, from April 2000 to the present.  The Sage Group LLC provides merger, acquisition and capital formation advisory services to a wide range of companies in the consumer sector. Managing Director at the Los Angeles office of ING Barings LLC, a diversified financial service institution headquartered in the Netherlands, from April 1995 to April 2000. Mr. Vidergauz brings strong merger and acquisition, corporate finance, corporate governance and leadership experience to the Board.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR SET FORTH ABOVE.

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MANAGEMENT

Board Meetings and Committees; Annual Meeting Attendance

The Board is comprised of Messrs. Rodney C. Sacks, Hilton H. Schlosberg, Mark J. Hall (since January 1, 2014), Benjamin M. Polk, Norman C. Epstein, Sydney Selati, Harold C. Taber, Jr. and Mark S. Vidergauz. The Board held nine meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  One director was unable to attend the annual meeting held on June 3, 2013 and two other directors were unable to attend one Board meeting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  The Board has determined that Messrs. Epstein, Taber, Vidergauz, Selati and Polk are independent, as that term is defined in the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and SEC regulations. Our independent directors met in executive session four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Board does not have a policy requiring the attendance by the directors at the Annual Meeting.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Audit Committee was comprised of Norman C. Epstein (Chairman), Harold C. Taber, Jr. and Sydney Selati. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp. com/governance.cfm. The Audit Committee held nine meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee last met in February 2014 in connection with the review of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  See “Audit Committee” below for more information.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Compensation Committee was comprised of Norman C. Epstein (Chairman), Mark S. Vidergauz, Sydney Selati and Harold C. Taber. The Compensation Committee held seven meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.  Under  the Monster Beverage Corporation 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan, (the “2011 Incentive Plan”), the Compensation Committee has sole and exclusive authority to grant equity awards to all employees and consultants who are not new hires and to all new hires who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  The Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee each independently has the authority to grant awards to new hires who are not Section 16 employees. The Compensation Committee is in the process of adopting a charter consistent with the NASDAQ listing standards. The Board has adopted written Equity Grant Procedures. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Long-Term Incentive Program” and “Compensation Committee” below for more information.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Nominating Committee was comprised of Harold C. Taber, Jr. (Chairman), Norman C. Epstein and Sydney Selati. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee, which is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp. com/governance.cfm. The Nominating Committee held one meeting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. See “Nominating Committee” below for more information.

The Executive Committee, comprised of Rodney C. Sacks and Hilton H. Schlosberg, held six formal meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Executive Committee manages and directs the business of the Company between meetings of the Board. Under the 2011 Incentive Plan, each of the Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee of the Board independently has the authority to grant awards to new hires who are not Section 16 employees. Awards granted by the Executive Committee are not subject to approval or ratification by the Board or the Compensation Committee (see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Long-Term Incentive Program”).

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Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Policy

In 2012, the Board adopted stock ownership guidelines regarding stock ownership by non-employee Board members.  These guidelines provide that each non-employee director of the Company be required to hold at all times a minimum of 1,000 shares of Common Stock.  During 2013, all non-employee directors held at least the minimum shares of Common Stock at all times.

Director Resignation Policy

The Board has a director resignation policy. This policy provides that, in an uncontested election, any incumbent director nominee who receives a greater number of votes “WITHHELD” from his or her election than votes “FOR” his or her election must promptly tender his or her resignation to the Board following certification of the election results. The Nominating Committee will review the circumstances surrounding the election and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation. The Board must act on the tendered resignation.  If such resignation is rejected, the Board must publicly disclose its decision, together with the rationale supporting its decision, within 90 days after certification of the election results. A copy of the director resignation policy is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com /governance.cfm.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors does not have a policy on whether or not the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board should be separate and, if they are to be separate, whether the Chairman of the Board should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. The Board of Directors believes that it should be free to make a choice from time to time in any manner that is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.  The Board believes that the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer is best situated to serve as Chairman of the Board. Rodney C. Sacks has led the Company for over 24 years and therefore is highly knowledgeable with respect to the Company’s business, operations and industry. Mr. Sacks is well positioned to identify strategic priorities and lead the Board’s consideration and analysis of such priorities. The Board believes that the combined role of Chairman and CEO promotes consistency and efficiency in the development and execution of the Company’s business strategy.

Lead Independent Director

In March 2014, the independent directors of the Board approved a Lead Independent Director Charter.  Under the Lead Independent Director Charter, if the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by the same person, the independent members of the Board of Directors will annually elect with a majority vote an independent director to serve in a lead capacity. Although elected annually, the Lead Independent Director is generally expected to serve for more than one year. The Lead Independent Director may be removed or replaced at any time with or without cause by a majority vote of the independent members of the Board.

In March, 2014, Mr. Vidergauz was elected to serve as Lead Independent Director, a newly created position elected by and from the independent directors, which the Board believes will act as a counterbalance to the combined Chairman/CEO role. In his capacity, Mr. Vidergauz will, among other things, be responsible for leading executive sessions of the independent directors and serve as the principal liaison between the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the independent directors. A copy of the Lead Independent Director Charter is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/governance.cfm.

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The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors plays an active role in overseeing and managing the Company’s risks.  The full Board and its Executive Committee regularly review the Company’s results, performance, operations, competitive position, business strategy, liquidity, capital resources, product distribution and development, material contingencies and senior personnel, as well as the risks associated with each of these matters. The Board implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through its standing committees. Certain of the work is delegated to committees, which meet regularly and report back to the full Board. The Compensation Committee oversees management of risks related to the Company’s compensation policies and practices. The Audit Committee oversees management of risks related to financial reporting and internal controls. The full Board also discusses risk throughout the year during meetings in relation to specific proposed actions. These processes are designed to ensure that risks are taken knowingly and purposefully. The Board believes that its role in oversight of risk management (as well as the role of the Compensation and Audit Committees) has not adversely affected its leadership structure or results of operations.

The names and ages of our Named Executive Officers, whom we refer to as our NEOs, and certain biographical information about them, are set forth on page 11 and below.

Thomas J. Kelly – Senior Vice President Finance and/or Controller and Secretary of MEC since 1992.  Prior to joining MEC, Mr. Kelly served as controller for California Copackers Corporation.  Mr. Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and has worked in the beverage business for over 27 years.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program for our NEOs, listed in the summary compensation table on the following pages, is designed to motivate our executive talent, to reward those individuals fairly over time for achieving performance goals, to retain those individuals who continue to perform at or above the levels that are deemed essential to ensure our long-term success and growth and to attract, as needed, individuals with the skills necessary for us to achieve our business plan. The program is also designed to reinforce a sense of ownership and overall entrepreneurial spirit and to link rewards to measurable corporate and qualitative and quantitative individual performance. In applying these principles we seek to integrate compensation programs with our short- and long-term strategic plans and to align the interests of our NEOs with the long-term interests of our stockholders through award opportunities that can result in ownership of stock. The

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Compensation Committee evaluates risks and rewards associated with the Company’s overall compensation philosophy and structure.  Our Executive Committee discusses with the Compensation Committee strategies to identify and mitigate, as necessary, such potential risks. With respect to specific elements of compensation, base salary is a fixed amount and does not encourage unnecessary and excessive risk-taking. Our discretionary annual bonus is designed to reward achievement of short-term performance metrics. Our NEOs have the opportunity for stock ownership and are awarded equity grants under equity plans that generally vest over multiple year periods. Such stock ownership encourages achievement of long-term goals and aligns the NEOs’ interests with those of our stockholders. As a result, we believe our executive compensation program avoids providing incentives for our NEOs to engage in unnecessary and excessive risk-taking at the expense of the Company and its stockholders.

Compensation Risks

We have evaluated the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for our employees and concluded that such risks are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In this regard, the following factors, among others, were considered:

Setting Executive Compensation

The compensation programs for our NEOs are generally administered by or under the direction of the Compensation Committee (in the case of Rodney Sacks, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Hilton Schlosberg, the Vice Chairman and President) and the Executive Committee (in the case of the other NEOs), and are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that remuneration levels and benefits are competitive and reasonable and continue to achieve the goals set forth in our compensation philosophy.

During 2012 and 2013, the Compensation Committee consulted with the independent firm of compensation consultants it retained, Exequity, LLP (“Exequity”), to provide competitive market data and make recommendations to the Board with respect to compensation for outside directors as well as compensation provided to the NEOs. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Exequity, relative to the six factors defined by the SEC and NASDAQ, and determined that Exequity is independent and without conflict of interest. While we do not set compensation at a targeted percentage level relative to the market, we do seek to provide salary, incentive compensation opportunities and employee benefits that are generally competitive within the consumer products industry, the beverage industry and within the labor markets in which we participate; such information being principally gathered through our recruiting and retention experience and supplemented with a competitive market analysis. In 2012 and February 2013, the Compensation Committee consulted with Exequity to conduct a competitive market analysis and benchmark top executive pay to reflect a comparison group of similarly sized, similarly high performing companies in the consumer products and services industry, which included:

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The market analysis showed competitive positioning for the NEOs, in the aggregate, in the low end of the top quartile; with salary and annual bonus in the bottom quartile and long-term incentive opportunities in the top quartile. The competitive pay positioning was consistent with the Company’s philosophy to provide a highly leveraged pay opportunity aligned with the Company’s generally top quartile performance. Decisions regarding 2013 compensation to the NEOs were based, in part, on the 2012 and 2013 market analysis performed by Exequity.

In December 2013, the Compensation Committee retained the independent firm of compensation consultants, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FWC”), to provide competitive market data and make recommendations to the Board with respect to compensation for outside directors as well as compensation provided to the NEOs. The Compensation Committee considered FWC’s compensation review for the 2013 bonus compensation and intends to use FWC’s compensation market data for decisions regarding 2014 compensation.

We view all components of compensation as related but distinct. We do not believe that significant compensation derived from one component of compensation should negate or reduce compensation from other components. We determine the appropriate level for each compensation component based in part, but not exclusively, on competitive benchmarks gathered through our recruiting and retention experience, our review of internal comparatives and other considerations we deem relevant, such as rewarding performance. We believe that equity awards should be granted for long-term performance. We believe that equity awards are an important compensation-related motivator to attract and retain executives, and that salary and discretionary bonus levels are secondary considerations to our NEOs. Except as described herein, neither our Compensation Committee nor our Executive Committee have adopted any formal or informal policies or guidelines for allocating compensation between short-term and long-term and current compensation between cash and non-cash compensation. However, our Compensation Committee and Executive Committee’s respective philosophy is to make a greater percentage of our NEOs’ compensation rewarded through equity rather than cash if we perform well over time. Compensation packages for each of our NEOs are tailored to each individual NEO’s circumstances by the Compensation Committee and/or the Executive Committee, as appropriate, and are largely based on subjective evaluations of overall and individual performance. Each element of compensation is determined differently for each individual NEO based on a variety of facts and circumstances applicable at the time and to that specific NEO.

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Our Compensation Committee and Executive Committee’s current intent is to perform at least annually a strategic review of compensation paid to our NEOs to determine whether they have provided adequate incentives and motivation to our NEOs, and whether they adequately compensate our NEOs relative to comparable officers in other companies with which we compete for executives. These companies may or may not be public companies or even consumer product, food or beverage companies. For compensation decisions, including decisions regarding the grant of equity compensation relating to NEOs, other than our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice Chairman and President, the Compensation Committee specifically considers recommendations from the Executive Committee.

Results of 2013 Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

At our 2013 annual meeting of Stockholders, 97.3 % of the votes cast were in favor of our advisory resolution regarding the compensation of our NEOs.  The Compensation Committee believes this affirms the stockholders’ support of the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy with respect to executive compensation. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

Compensation Program Components

Our NEO compensation currently has three primary components:  base compensation or salary, discretionary annual bonus, and equity awards granted pursuant to our 2011 Incentive Plan, which is described below under “Long-Term Incentive Program.”

Each of the primary components of NEO compensation is discussed below.

Base Salary

Base salaries for our NEOs are established based on the scope of their individual responsibilities, taking into account competitive market compensation paid by other companies for individuals in similar positions. We fix NEO base compensation at levels which we believe enables us to retain individuals in a competitive environment (but without any fixed formula) and to reward performance at an acceptable level based upon contributions to our overall business goals. An annual review of base salary usually occurs in the first quarter of each calendar year and the Compensation Committee has completed its review for 2013. We may also utilize input on compensation from compensation consultants, executive search firms and market data when making crucial hiring decisions.

Discretionary Annual Bonus

We provide incentive compensation to our NEOs in the form of discretionary annual cash bonuses based on a qualitative review of individual and company-wide financial and operational performance and/or results, consistent with our emphasis on pay-for-performance incentive compensation programs. These parameters vary depending on the individual executive, but relate generally to strategic factors such as sales, distribution levels, introduction of new products, overall operating performance, contribution margins and profitability. However, these parameters are used only as a broad guide of overall performance and we do not use a fixed formula for determination of discretionary annual cash bonuses with respect to our NEOs, individually or as a group. In addition, we analyze the proposed discretionary annual bonus amounts both as a percentage of base salary and in comparison to amounts paid in previous fiscal years. We generally utilize discretionary cash bonuses to reward performance achievements for the time horizon of one year or less.

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The actual amount of the discretionary annual bonus is determined and paid in the first quarter following a qualitative review of each NEO’s individual performance and contribution to our strategic goals during the prior year.

The Compensation Committee determines the discretionary annual bonuses for Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg and the Executive Committee (comprised of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Vice Chairman and President) determines the discretionary annual bonuses for the other NEOs.  The discretionary annual bonuses for fiscal 2013 were paid in 2014.

Long-Term Incentive Program

We believe that long-term performance is achieved through an ownership culture that encourages superior performance by our NEOs through the use of equity awards. Our equity compensation plans have been established to provide our NEOs with incentives to further align their interests with the interests of the stockholders. Grants under our equity compensation plans vest over a number of years, generally from three to five years depending on award type.

During 2011, the Company adopted the 2011 Incentive Plan.  Our 2011 Incentive Plan authorizes us to grant incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other share-based awards to our employees and consultants.  The Compensation Committee is the administrator of the 2011 Incentive Plan and is authorized to grant equity awards to employees and consultants thereunder.   The 2011 Incentive Plan replaced the Hansen Natural Corporation 2001 Amended Option Plan, which was terminated effective as of May 19, 2011.

The Compensation Committee has sole and exclusive authority to grant equity awards to all employees who are not new hires and to all new hires who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee of the Board each independently has the authority to grant equity awards to new hires who are not Section 16 employees. Awards granted by the Executive Committee are not subject to approval or ratification by the Board or the Compensation Committee. For purposes of these procedures, a new hire means: (i) an employee who is commencing employment with the Company or its subsidiaries; or (ii) an employee who is receiving a promotion to a new position with the Company or one of its subsidiaries. The grant date of any award to a new hire shall be the first day that NASDAQ is open in the calendar month following the employee’s commencement of employment or the date of the employee’s promotion (as the case may be). Other than awards to new hires, awards may only be granted (i) at one or more meetings held during the last two weeks of May, August and/or November of each year and/or (ii) at one or more meetings held during the first eleven days of March of each year. The grant date of any equity award granted at May, August or November meetings shall be the first day that NASDAQ is open in June, September or December, respectively, following such May, August or November meetings (as the case may be). The grant date of any equity award granted at a March meeting shall be March 14th or, if NASDAQ is closed on March 14th, the first day that NASDAQ is open prior to March 14th. The procedures also require certain same day documentation.

The Compensation Committee reviewed and approved equity awards to our NEOs based upon compensation data principally gathered through a market analysis conducted by our retained compensation consultants, our recruiting and retention experience and its qualitative assessment of individual performance, as well as a review of each executive’s current long-term incentives and retention considerations.

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The Compensation Committee historically has not automatically granted equity awards annually, but instead has provided awards periodically to align compensation with performance on a discretionary basis.  No equity awards were granted to Mr. Sacks or Mr. Schlosberg in 2012.  Equity awards were granted to Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg in June 2013 to reward for and align with the Company’s continued strong performance in 2011 and 2012, particularly in terms of global growth and financial performance.  In advance of approving the 2013 stock option awards to Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, the Compensation Committee reviewed Exequity’s competitive compensation benchmarking study performed in February 2013 and targeted the stock option awards towards the low end of top quartile of market practice to provide alignment with the Company’s generally top quartile performance.  Recent equity awards granted to Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg typically vest over a three-year period. Equity awards granted to Mr. Hall and Mr. Kelly typically vest over a five-year period.

Other Compensation

Certain NEOs who are parties to employment agreements will continue to be subject to such agreements in their current form until such time as the Compensation Committee determines in its discretion that revisions to such employment agreements are advisable. For a summary description of the terms of these agreements, see “Summary Compensation Table - Agreements with Named Executive Officers” below.  In addition, we intend to continue to maintain our current benefits and perquisites for our NEOs, which include automobile and benefit premiums, among other perquisites. However, the Compensation Committee in its discretion may revise, amend or add to such NEOs benefits and perquisites if it deems it advisable. We believe these benefits and perquisites are currently in line with those provided by comparable companies within the consumer products industry, the beverage industry and within the labor markets in which we participate for similarly situated executives, based principally on information gathered through our recruiting and retention experience.

Employee Benefit Plans

Our employees, including our NEOs, are entitled to various employee benefits, which generally include health care plans, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, 401(k) Plan, paid time off, automobile benefits, as well as other allowances.

401(k) Plan

Our employees, including our NEOs, may participate in our 401(k) Plan, a defined contribution plan that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).  Participating employees may contribute up to statutory limits. We currently contribute 25% of the employee contribution, up to 8% of each employee’s earnings on a per pay period basis, which vests at a rate of 20% each year for five years after the first anniversary date.

Separation and Change in Control Arrangements

Certain of our NEOs, per the terms of their respective employment agreements and/or employment offer letters and/or amendments to conditions of employment and/or equity award agreements, are eligible for certain benefits and/or payments if there is a change in control and/or employment terminates following a change in control, as described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” beginning on page 27.

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We believe these arrangements are an important part of overall compensation and will help to secure the continued employment and dedication of our NEOs prior to or following a change in control, notwithstanding any concern that they may have at such time regarding their own continued employment. In addition, we believe that these arrangements are an important recruitment and retention incentive. These arrangements do not provide for tax gross ups.

Tax Implications

Section 162(m) of the Code imposes a $1 million limit on the deduction that we may claim in any tax year with respect to compensation paid to any of the NEOs, excluding the principal financial officer. However, the code allows for certain types of performance-based exemptions to this $1 million limit, provided that the compensation plan meets certain requirements. Our stock option grants generally comply with the performance-based exemption of Section 162(m). The Compensation Committee believes that shareholder interests are best served if the Compensation Committee’s discretion and flexibility in awarding compensation is not restricted, even though some compensation awards may result in non-deductible compensation expenses.  Therefore, the Compensation Committee reserves the right to authorize payments or take other actions that can result in the payment of compensation that is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Summary Compensation Table

On August 8, 2005, our Common Stock was split on a two-for-one basis through a 100% stock dividend.  On July 7, 2006, our Common Stock was split on a four-for-one basis through a 300% stock dividend.  On February 15, 2012, our Common Stock was split on a two-for-one basis through a 100% stock dividend. All share information has been presented to reflect the stock splits.

The following table summarizes the total compensation of our NEOs during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, our NEOs were Rodney C. Sacks, Hilton H. Schlosberg, Mark J. Hall and Thomas J. Kelly.

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(1)               The amounts represent the current year grant date fair value for all share-based payment awards computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula with the following assumptions:

(A) All Other Compensation

Discussion of Summary Compensation Table

Agreements with Named Executive Officers:

Rodney C. Sacks – We entered into the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement as of March 6, 2009, pursuant to which Mr. Sacks continued to render services as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement, Mr. Sacks’ annual base salary shall be reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board. Mr. Sacks is eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount determined at the discretion of our Board as well as certain fringe benefits. The employment period of this agreement commenced on March 6, 2009 and continued through December 31, 2013. Under the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement, Mr. Sacks was subject to a confidentiality covenant and a six-month post-termination non-competition covenant. The Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement was subject to termination (i) upon the death or disability of Mr. Sacks, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Sacks on 90 days’ written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined therein) by the Company, or (iv) upon Constructive Termination (as defined therein) by Mr. Sacks. The severance provisions in the 2009 Sacks Employment Agreement are discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below. Since January 1, 2009, we entered into certain equity compensation agreements with Mr. Sacks as disclosed in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below. On March 18, 2014, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Sacks (the “2014 Sacks Employment Agreement”) under which the current term of employment commenced

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on January 1, 2014 and continues through December 31, 2018, subject to an automatic renewal period of one year unless notice of intent to not renew is given by either us or Mr. Sacks.  The 2014 Sacks Employment Agreement is subject to termination (i) upon the death or disability of Mr. Sacks, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Sacks on 90 days’ written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined therein) by us, or (iv) upon Constructive Termination (as defined therein) by Mr. Sacks.  Mr. Sacks will receive an annual base salary of $600,000, which shall be reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board.  Mr. Sacks may also be granted bonuses at the discretion of our Board.  The 2014 Sacks Employment Agreement contains confidentiality and non-compete provisions.

Hilton H. Schlosberg – We entered into the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement as of March 6, 2009, pursuant to which Mr. Schlosberg continued to render services as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement, Mr. Schlosberg’s annual base salary shall be reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board. Mr. Schlosberg is eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount determined at the discretion of our Board as well as certain fringe benefits. The employment period of this agreement commenced on March 6, 2009 and continued through December 31, 2013. Under the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement, Mr. Schlosberg was subject to a confidentiality covenant and a six-month post-termination non-competition covenant. The Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement was subject to termination (i) upon the death or disability of Mr. Schlosberg, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Schlosberg on 90 days’ written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined therein) by the Company, or (iv) upon Constructive Termination (as defined therein) by Mr. Schlosberg. The severance provisions in the 2009 Schlosberg Employment Agreement are discussed in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section below. Since January 1, 2009, we entered into certain equity compensation agreements with Mr. Schlosberg as disclosed in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below. On March 18, 2014, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Schlosberg (the “2014 Schlosberg Employment Agreement”) under which the current term of employment commenced on January 1, 2014 and continues through December 31, 2018, subject to an automatic renewal period of one year unless notice of intent to not renew is given by either us or Mr. Schlosberg.  The 2014 Schlosberg Employment Agreement is subject to termination (i) upon the death or disability of Mr. Schlosberg, (ii) voluntarily by Mr. Schlosberg on 90 days’ written notice, (iii) for Cause (as defined therein) by us, or (iv) upon Constructive Termination (as defined therein) by Mr. Schlosberg.  Mr. Schlosberg will receive an annual base salary of $600,000, which shall be reviewed annually and increased at the discretion of our Board.  Mr. Schlosberg may also be granted bonuses at the discretion of our Board. The 2014 Schlosberg Employment Agreement contains confidentiality and non-compete provisions.

Mark J. Hall – On October 28, 2013, Mr. Hall entered into an agreement (“Hall Agreement”) with MEC.  Pursuant to the Hall Agreement, Mr. Hall agreed to serve as a member of the Board for at least one year, effective January 1, 2014.  The Hall Agreement also provided for a sabbatical and leave of absence for Mr. Hall through December 31, 2013.  Effective January 1, 2014, Mr. Hall resigned as President of Monster Beverage Division and was appointed Chief Brand Officer of MEC, for which Mr. Hall receives an annual salary of $250,000. Mr. Hall is also subject to covenants not to compete with or solicit employees or contractors of MEC or its affiliates during the term of Mr. Hall’s employment and for a period of two years after termination of his employment or his service as a Board member, whichever occurs last.  Mr. Hall is eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount determined at the discretion of our Executive Committee as well as certain fringe benefits.  Since January 1, 2009, we entered into certain equity compensation agreements with Mr. Hall as disclosed in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below.

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Thomas J. Kelly – Mr. Kelly’s employment is “at will” and thus may be terminated at any time for any or no reason.  Effective January 1, 2014, Mr. Kelly’s base compensation is $270,000. Mr. Kelly is eligible to receive an annual bonus in an amount determined at the discretion of our Executive Committee as well as certain fringe benefits. Since January 1, 2009, we entered into certain equity compensation agreements with Mr. Kelly as disclosed in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table below.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table summarizes grants of plan-based awards granted to our NEOs during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

(1)         The amounts represent the current year grant date fair value for all share-based payment awards computed in accordance with ASC 718.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes the outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs at December 31, 2013.

(1)          Vest as follows: 100,000 on December 1, 2014

(2)          Vest as follows: 70,000 on June 3, 2014; 70,000 on June 3, 2015; 70,000 on June 3, 2016

(3)          Vest as follows: 87,000 on September 1, 2014

(4)          Vest as follows: 80,000 on December 1, 2014

(5)          Vest as follows: 20,000 on December 1, 2014; 20,000 on December 1, 2015

(6)          Vest as follows: 6,668 on June 1, 2014

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(7)          Vest as follows: 10,000 on September 1, 2014

(8)          Vest as follows: 5,000 on September 1, 2014; 5,000 on September 1, 2015; 5,000 on September 1, 2016

(9)          Vest as follows: 10,000 on March 14, 2014; 15,000 on March 14, 2015; 20,000 on March 14, 2016; 25,000 on March 14, 2017; 30,000 on March 14, 2018

(10)    Vest as follows: 4,000 on June 1, 2014

(11)    Vest as follows: 4,000 on December 1, 2014

(12)    Vest as follows: 4,000 on December 1, 2014; 4,000 on December 1, 2015

(13)    Vest as follows: 1,500 on June 1, 2016; 1,500 on June 1, 2017

(14)    Vest as follows: 1,500 on March 14, 2014; 2,250 on March 14, 2015; 3,000 on March 14, 2016; 3,750 on March 14, 2017; 4,500 on March 14, 2018

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

The following table summarizes exercise of stock options and stock vested by our NEOs during the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Pension Benefits

We do not maintain or make contributions to a defined benefit plan for any of our NEOs.

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

None of our NEOs participated or have account balances in non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans maintained by us. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of “outside directors” as defined for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, may elect to provide our NEOs or other employees with non-qualified defined contribution or deferred compensation benefits should they deem such benefits appropriate.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

We have entered into certain agreements and maintain certain plans that may require us to make certain payments and/or provide certain benefits to our NEOs in the event of a termination of employment or a change of control. The following tables and narrative disclosure summarize the potential payments to each of our NEOs assuming that one of the events listed in the tables below occurs. The tables assume that the event occurred on December 31, 2013, the last day of our fiscal year.

Key Employment Agreement and Equity Award Agreement Definitions

For purposes of the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement described  in this section, cause (under which we may terminate their employment) is defined as:

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(i) an act or acts of dishonesty or gross misconduct on the executive’s part which result or are intended to result in material damage to our business or reputation; or (ii) repeated material violations by the executive of his obligations relating to his position and duties, which violations are demonstrably willful and deliberate on the executive’s part and which result in material damage to our business or reputation and as to which material violations our Board has notified the executive in writing.

For purposes of the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement described in this section, constructive termination (under which they may terminate their employment) is defined as: (i) without the written consent of the executive, (A) the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent in any substantial respect with the executive’s position, authority or responsibilities as contemplated by the position and duties described in his employment agreement, or (B) any other substantial adverse change in such position, including titles, authority or responsibilities; (ii) any failure by us to comply with any of the provisions of his employment agreement, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure, remedied by us promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the executive; (iii) our requiring the executive without his consent to be based at any office location outside of Riverside, California or Orange County, California, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the executive’s responsibilities; or (iv) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption and agreement by a successor entity to perform his employment agreement, provided that the successor entity has had actual written notice of the existence of his employment agreement and its terms and an opportunity to assume the Company’s responsibilities under his employment agreement during a period of 10 business days after receipt of such notice.

For purposes of the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement and the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement described in this section, disability is defined as any disability which would entitle the executive to receive full long-term disability benefits under our long-term disability plan, or if no such plan shall then be in effect, any physical or mental disability or incapacity which renders the executive incapable of performing the services required of him in accordance with his obligations under Section 5 of the employment agreement for a period of more than 120 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period during the employment period.

For purposes of the restricted stock unit agreements with Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, good reason is defined as termination of employment on or after a reduction in his compensation or benefits, his removal from his current position, or his being assigned duties and responsibilities that are inconsistent with the dignity, importance of scope of his position.

For purposes of the restricted stock unit agreements with Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, cause is defined as an act of fraud or dishonesty, knowing and material failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, or drug or alcohol abuse, in any case as determined by the Board.

For purposes of the stock option agreements with Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, change in control is defined as: (i) the acquisition of “Beneficial Ownership” by any person (as defined in rule 13(d)–3 under the Exchange Act), corporation or other entity other than us or a wholly-owned subsidiary of 20% or more of our outstanding stock; (ii) the sale or disposition of substantially all of our assets; or (iii) our merger with another corporation in which our Common Stock is no longer outstanding after such merger.

For purposes of the stock option agreements with Mr. Sacks and Mr. Schlosberg, cause (under which we may terminate their employment) is defined as the individual’s act of fraud or dishonesty, knowing and material failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations or drug or alcohol abuse; and good reason

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(under which they may terminate their employment) is defined as a reduction in the individual’s compensation or benefits, the individual’s removal from his current position or the assignment to the individual of duties or responsibilities that are inconsistent with the dignity, importance or scope of his position with us.

For purposes of all the stock option agreements, total disability is defined as the complete and permanent inability of the executive to perform all his duties of employment with us.

For purposes of the employment offer letter with Mr. Hall described in this section, cause (under which we may terminate employment) shall mean an act of dishonesty, or reasons which justify summary dismissal.

For purposes of the stock option agreements with Mr. Hall, change in control is generally defined as: (i) the acquisition of “beneficial ownership” by any person (as defined in Rule 13(d)–3 under the Exchange Act), corporation or other entity other than us or a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours of 50% or more of our outstanding stock; (ii) the sale or disposition of substantially all of our assets; or (iii) our merger with another corporation in which our Common Stock is no longer outstanding after such merger.

For purposes of the stock option agreements with Mr. Hall and Mr. Kelly, cause (under which we may terminate their employment) is defined as the individual’s act of fraud or dishonesty, knowing and material failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations or satisfactory performance of his duties of employment, insubordination or drug or alcohol abuse.

(a)          Under the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination due to death or disability, Mr. Sacks, or his legal representative, would be entitled to continuation of base salary, employee plan benefits for himself and his family and automobile benefits for a period of one year from the date of termination and payment for accrued vacation.

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(b)          Under the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary termination by Mr. Sacks, Mr. Sacks was entitled to payment for only accrued vacation.

(c)          Under the Sacks 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination by us without cause or termination by Mr. Sacks for constructive termination, i.e. for good cause, or if we elected not to renew his employment agreement, Mr. Sacks was entitled to the present value of his base salary for the period through December 31, 2013, or through the date which is twelve months from the date of termination, whichever period is longer, at the rate in effect on the date of termination, discounted at the interest rate payable on one year U.S. Treasury Bills in effect on the day that is 30 business days prior to the date of termination. In addition, Mr. Sacks would be entitled to continuation of all benefit plans and automobile benefits for the period from the date of termination to December 31, 2013, or through the date which is twelve months from the date of termination, whichever period is longer. Also, in the case of termination without cause, Mr. Sacks would be entitled to two weeks base salary in lieu of notice at the rate in effect on the date of termination. In addition, under Mr. Sacks’ stock equity agreements, if Mr. Sacks’ employment is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Sacks for good reason, all equity awards shall immediately become exercisable in their entirety.

(d)          Under Mr. Sacks’ equity agreements, upon a change in control, all equity awards shall immediately become exercisable in their entirety. With respect to Mr. Sacks’ stock option agreements, options may, with the consent of Mr. Sacks, be purchased by the Company for cash at a price equal to the aggregate of the fair market value for one (1) share of our Common Stock less the purchase price payable by Mr. Sacks to exercise the options as set forth under each option agreement, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock which Mr. Sacks has the option to purchase.

(a)          Under the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination due to death or disability, Mr. Schlosberg, or his legal representative, would be entitled to continuation of base salary, employee plan benefits for himself and his family and automobile benefits for a period of one year from the date of termination and payment for accrued vacation.

(b)          Under the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary termination by Mr. Schlosberg, Mr. Schlosberg was entitled to payment for only accrued vacation.

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(c)          Under the Schlosberg 2009 Employment Agreement, upon termination by us without cause or termination by Mr. Schlosberg for constructive termination, i.e. for good cause, or if we elected not to renew his employment agreement, Mr. Schlosberg is entitled to the present value of his base salary for the period through December 31, 2013, or through the date which is twelve months from the date of termination, whichever period is longer, at the rate in effect on the date of termination, discounted at the interest rate payable on one year U.S. Treasury Bills in effect on the day that is 30 business days prior to the date of termination.  In addition, Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to continuation of all benefit plans and automobile benefits for the period from the date of termination to December 31, 2013, or through the date which is twelve months from the date of termination, whichever period is longer. Also, in the case of termination without cause, Mr. Schlosberg would be entitled to two weeks base salary in lieu of notice at the rate in effect on the date of termination.  In addition, under Mr. Schlosberg’s stock option agreements, if Mr. Schlosberg’s employment is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Schlosberg for good reason, all stock option awards shall immediately become exercisable in their entirety.

(d)          Under Mr. Schlosberg’s equity agreements, upon a change in control, all equity awards shall immediately become exercisable in their entirety. With respect to Mr. Schlosberg’s stock option agreements, options may, with the consent of Mr. Schlosberg, be purchased by the Company for cash at a price equal to the aggregate of the fair market value for one (1) share of our Common Stock less the purchase price payable by Mr. Schlosberg to exercise the options as set forth under each option agreement, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock which Mr. Schlosberg has the option to purchase.

(a)          Under our general employment practices, upon termination due to death or disability, Mr. Hall, or his legal representative, is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(b)          Under Mr. Hall’s employment offer letter, dated January 21, 1997, and our general employment practices, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary termination by Mr. Hall, Mr. Hall is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(c)          Under Mr. Hall’s employment offer letter, dated January 21, 1997, upon termination by us without cause, Mr. Hall would be entitled to two months severance pay and the continuation of medical and dental benefit coverage for both himself and his family for a period of two months. In addition, under our general employment practices, Mr. Hall is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(d)          Under Mr. Hall’s stock option agreements (exclusive of the stock option agreement dated December 1, 2010), upon a change in control, all stock option awards shall immediately become exercisable in their entirety and the options may, with the consent of Mr. Hall, be purchased by us for cash at a price equal to the aggregate of the fair market value for one (1) share of our Common Stock less the purchase price payable by Mr. Hall to exercise the options as

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set forth under each option agreement, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock which Mr. Hall has the option to purchase. Under Mr. Hall’s stock option agreement dated December 1, 2010, our Board may, at any time, in its sole discretion, provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control (as determined by the Board), all or a specified portion of any outstanding options, not theretofore exercisable, shall immediately become exercisable and that any options not exercised prior to such change in control shall be canceled.

(a)                                 Under our general employment practices, upon termination due to death or disability, Mr. Kelly or his legal representative, is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(b)                                 Under our general employment practices, upon termination by us for cause or voluntary termination by Mr. Kelly, Mr. Kelly is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(c)                                  Under our general employment practices, upon termination by us without cause, Mr. Kelly is entitled to payment for accrued vacation.

(d)                                 Under Mr. Kelly’s stock option agreements, the Board may, at any time, in its sole discretion, provide that upon the occurrence of a change in control (as determined by the Board), all or a specified portion of any outstanding options not theretofore exercisable, shall immediately become exercisable and that any options not exercised prior to such change in control shall be canceled. Under the Amendment to Conditions of Employment of Mr. Kelly dated December 7, 1999, if, following a change in control, Mr. Kelly’s employment with us is terminated by us other than for cause or in the event that Mr. Kelly resigns under circumstances which constitute constructive dismissal by us of Mr. Kelly, then Mr. Kelly shall be entitled to receive severance pay from us as follows: If termination occurs within the first six (6) months after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly shall be entitled to six (6) months severance pay in the amount of $125,000; if termination occurs between six (6) and twelve (12) months after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly shall be entitled to five (5) months severance pay in the amount of $104,167; if termination occurs between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) months after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly shall be entitled to four (4) months severance pay in the amount of $83,333 and if the termination occurs between eighteen and twenty-four (24) months after the change in control occurs, Mr. Kelly shall be entitled to three (3) months severance pay in the amount of $62,500.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth a summary of the fees earned by our outside directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

(1)   The outside directors held the following numbers of restricted stock units as of December 31, 2013, which vest May 30, 2014; Benjamin M. Polk, 2,198; Norman C. Epstein, 2,198; Harold C. Taber, Jr. 2,198; Mark S. Vidergauz, 2,198 and Sydney Selati, 2,198. Each restricted stock unit represents either (i) a contingent right to receive one share of the Common Stock or (ii) a cash amount equal to the number of shares received as of the vesting date (the last business day prior to the Annual Meeting).

(2)   The outside directors held the following numbers of outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2013; Benjamin M. Polk, 6,924; Norman C. Epstein, 0; Harold C. Taber, Jr. 45,324; Mark S. Vidergauz, 13,524 and Sydney Selati, 0.

In 2013, outside directors were entitled to receive an annual cash retainer of $60,000. Except for committee chairs, members of the Audit Committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,500 and members of the Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee received an additional $5,000. The chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual retainer of $15,000 and the chairs of the Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee each received an additional $10,000. In 2013, outside directors were entitled to receive an annual equity retainer of approximately $120,000. These awards vest one day prior to the Annual Meeting.

Employee Equity Compensation Plans

The 2011 Incentive Plan permits the granting of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock-based awards up to an aggregate of 14,500,000 shares of the common stock of the Company to employees or consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. Shares authorized under the 2011 Incentive Plan are reduced by 2.16 shares for each share granted or issued with respect to a Full Value Award. A Full Value Award is an award other than an incentive stock option, a non-qualified stock option, or a stock appreciation right, which is settled by the issuance of shares. Options granted under the 2011 Incentive Plan may be incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or non-qualified stock options. The Compensation Committee has sole and exclusive authority to grant stock awards to all employees who are not new hires and to all new hires who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee each independently has the authority to grant stock awards to new hires who are not Section 16 employees. Awards granted by the Executive Committee are not subject to approval or ratification by the Board or the Compensation Committee. Options granted under the 2011 Incentive Plan generally vest

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over a five-year period from the grant date and are generally exercisable up to 10 years after the grant date. Restricted stock granted under the 2011 Incentive Plan generally vests over a two- to three-year period from the grant date. Restricted stock units granted under the 2011 Incentive Plan generally vests over a two- to five-year period from the grant date. The 2011 Incentive Plan replaced the Hansen Natural Corporation 2001 Amended Option Plan, which was terminated effective as of May 19, 2011.

The 2011 Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which is comprised of directors who satisfy the “non-employee” director requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the “outside director” provision of Section 162(m) of the Code.  Grants under the 2011 Incentive Plan are made pursuant to individual agreements between the Company and each grantee that specifies the terms of the grant, including the exercise price, exercise period, vesting and other terms thereof.

Outside Directors Equity Compensation Plans

The 2009 Hansen Natural Corporation Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2009 Directors Plan”) permits the granting of options, stock appreciation rights (each, an “SAR”), and other stock-based awards to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,600,000 shares of common stock of the Company to non-employee directors of the Company. The 2009 Directors Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. Each award granted under the 2009 Directors Plan will be evidenced by a written agreement and will contain the terms and conditions that the Board of Directors deems appropriate. The Board of Directors may grant such awards on the last business day prior to the date of the annual meeting of stockholders. Any award granted under the 2009 Directors Plan will vest, with respect to 100% of such award, on the last business day prior to the date of the annual meeting, in the calendar year following the calendar year in which such award is granted. The Board of Directors may determine the exercise price per share of the Company’s common stock under each option, but such price may not be less than 100% of the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date an option is granted. Option grants may be made under the 2009 Directors Plan for 10 years from June 4, 2009. The Board of Directors may also grant SARs, independently, or in connection with an option grant. The Board of Directors may determine the exercise price per share of the Company’s common stock under each SAR, but such price may not be less than the greater of (i) the fair market value of a share on the date the SAR is granted and (ii) the price of the related option, if the SAR is granted in connection with an option grant. Additionally, the Board of Directors may grant other stock-based awards, which include awards of shares of the Company’s common stock, restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, and awards that are valued based on the fair market value of shares of the Company’s common stock. SARs and other stock-based awards are subject to the general provisions of the 2009 Directors Plan. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate the 2009 Directors Plan at any time. The 2009 Directors Plan replaced the 2005 Hansen Natural Corporation Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2013 with respect to shares of our Common Stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans.

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As of April 3, 2014, 11,585,868 shares were available for grant under equity compensation plans.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The Board has determined that Messrs. Epstein, Taber, Selati, Vidergauz and Polk are independent directors under applicable NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and SEC regulations.

Each director and nominee for election as a director delivers to the Company annually a questionnaire that includes, among other things, information relating to any transactions the director or nominee or their family members, may have with the Company, or in which the director or nominee, or such family member, has a direct or indirect material interest.

The Board, as well as its Audit Committee, reviews, approves and monitors all related party transactions. The Audit Committee’s policies and procedures for related party transactions are not in writing, but the proceedings are documented in the minutes of the Board and/or Audit Committee meetings. The Audit Committee will assess, among factors it deems appropriate, whether the transaction is on terms no more favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing all related party transactions on a continuing basis as well as potential conflict of interest situations where appropriate. No director shall participate in any discussion or approval of a transaction for which he is a related party, except that this director shall provide all material information concerning the transaction to the Audit Committee.

·                             During 2013, we purchased promotional items from IFM Group, Inc. (“IFM”).  Rodney C. Sacks, together with members of his family, owns approximately 27% of the issued shares in IFM.  Hilton H. Schlosberg, together with members of his family, owns approximately 58% of the issued shares in IFM. Expenses incurred with such company in connection with promotional materials purchased during the both fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $1.0 million. We continue to purchase promotional items from IFM Group, Inc. in 2014.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Company’s Audit Committee was comprised of Mr. Epstein (Chairman), Mr. Taber and Mr. Selati. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/ governance.cfm. The Board of Directors has determined that the members of the Audit Committee are “independent,” as defined in the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and SEC regulations relating to audit committees, meaning that they have no relationship to the Company that may interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out their responsibilities of a director.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Audit Committee consists of three independent directors (as independence is defined by NASD Rule 5605(a)(2)). Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Epstein is (1) an “audit committee financial expert,” as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act, and (2) independent as defined by the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee appoints, determines funding for, oversees and evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to accounting, internal controls and other matters, and makes other decisions with respect to audit and finance matters including the review of our quarterly and annual filings on Form 10-Q and Form 10-K. The Audit Committee also pre-approves the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees for all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm and determines whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. All members of the Audit Committee are able to read and understand financial statements and have experience in finance and accounting that provides them with financial sophistication.

Pursuant to authority delegated by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee’s written charter, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to:

In fulfilling its duties, the Audit Committee maintains free and open communication with the Board, the independent registered public accounting firm, financial management and all employees.

Report of the Audit Committee

In connection with these responsibilities, the Audit Committee met with management and Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, to review and discuss the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) AU Section 325 “Communications about Control

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Deficiencies in an Audit of Financial Statements” and AU Section 380 “Communications with Audit Committees”, as may be modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee also received from Deloitte & Touche LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by PCAOB Rule 3526 “Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence”, as may be modified or supplemented, and has discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP its independence.

Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Principal Accounting Firm Fees

Accounting Fees

Aggregate fees billed and unbilled to the Company for service provided for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (collectively “Deloitte & Touche”):

1 Tax fees consisted of fees for tax consultation services including advisory services for a state tax analysis and domestic and international tax advice.

2 All other fees consisted of fees incurred in connection with other transactions for the Company.

3For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, all of the services performed by Deloitte & Touche were approved by the Audit Committee.

Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services.  Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its chairman when necessary due to timing considerations. Any services approved by the chairman must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the full Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the pre-approval policies, and the fees for the services performed to date. All services in the table above were approved by the Audit Committee.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Company’s Compensation Committee was comprised of Mr. Epstein (Chairman), Mr. Selati, Mr. Taber and Mr. Vidergauz. The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing, developing and recommending to the Board the appropriate management compensation policies, programs and levels, and reviewing the performance of the Chief Executive Officer, President and other senior executive officers periodically in relation to certain objectives.

The Compensation Committee is ultimately responsible for determining, affirming or amending the level and nature of executive compensation of the Company. The Compensation Committee has access, at the Company’s expense, to independent, outside compensation consultants for both advice and competitive data for the purpose of making such determinations. The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation policies and programs as outlined above in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” ensure that levels of executive compensation fairly reflect the performance of the Company, thereby serving the best interests of its stockholders. The Board has adopted written Equity Grant Procedures.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions

No interlocking relationships exist between any member of the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee and any member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other company, nor has any such interlocking relationship existed in the past. No member of the Compensation Committee, other than Mr. Taber, who served as President and Chief Executive Officer of MEC from July 1992 to June 1997, is or was formerly an officer or an employee of the Company.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis referred to above be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, the Company’s  Nominating Committee was comprised of Mr. Taber (Chairman), Mr. Epstein and Mr. Selati. The Nominating Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities by establishing, and submitting to the Board for approval, criteria for the selection of new directors; identifying and approving individuals qualified to serve as members of the Board; selecting director nominees for our annual meetings of stockholders; evaluating the performance of the Board; reviewing and recommending to the Board any appropriate changes to the committees of the Board; and developing and recommending to the Board corporate governance guidelines and oversight with respect

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to corporate governance and ethical conduct. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee, a copy of which is available on our website at http://investors.monsterbevcorp.com/ governance.cfm.

Process for Selection and Nomination of Directors