EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN	18. 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 into a traditional plan with pretax salary or into a Roth plan with after tax salary up to statutory limits. The Company contributes 50% of the employee contribution, up to 6% of each employee’s earnings (8% starting January 1, 2020), which vest over four years (2 years of service = 50%, 3 years of service = 75%, 4 years of service = 100%). Matching contributions were $3.4 million, $2.9 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

18. 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 into a traditional plan with pretax salary or into a Roth plan with after tax salary up to statutory limits. The Company contributes 50% of the employee contribution, up to 6% of each employee’s earnings (8% starting January 1, 2020), which vest over four years (2 years of service = 50%, 3 years of service = 75%, 4 years of service = 100%). Matching contributions were $3.4 million, $2.9 million and $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.