EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

17.EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

Employees of the Company may participate in the Monster Beverage Corporation 401(k) Plan, a defined contribution plan, which qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Participating employees may contribute up to 15% of their pretax salary up to statutory limits. The Company contributes 50% of the employee contribution, up to 6% of each employee’s earnings, which vest 25% each year for four years after the first anniversary date. Matching contributions were $2.5 million, $2.0 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.