Highest-Paid CEO in 2025: You Won’t Believe Who Tops the List

You won’t believe who takes home over $165 million. Distancing themselves from the likes of tech-famous Tim Cook or even financial heavyweights. When we’re discussing the highest-paid CEO, we’re not just talking about a big salary. What that means in this case is a total compensation package. This consists of a base salary, a set of annual bonuses, stock options or equity awards, and a total of various costly perks. This can actually make a huge difference to the amount a CEO finally takes home.

This is more than a great salary. This is the highest end of what’s available at a corporation. It is a measure of great responsibility and the value of these people to the corporation. The size of the amounts generates both wonder and discussion. 

So, who is the person at the very top, the clear-cut Highest-Paid CEO, sitting on the very highest paid package in the world? Come with us to find out who and explore the interesting world of the CEO!

Data Snapshot – What Numbers Say:

Before finding out about the Highest-Paid CEO who make a fortune. Let’s understand the range of approximate salary a CEO working in the USA gets in 2025. This is backed by data and statistics.

1. All companies (broad range):

• The average annual salary for a Chief Executive Officer in the United States is about $897,916, with salaries typically ranging from $496,864 to $1,350,265.
• Job boards report base salaries are generally lower: $154,536 (average), with ranges from $82,845 to $288,267 per year. Some CEOs also receive profit-sharing, averaging $25,000.
  

2. Private companies (mid-sized):

• The median base salary (excluding bonus, equity, and benefits) among private U.S. Company CEOs was $325,000 in 2024. The median performance bonus was about $100,000. For 2025, CEOs expect a base salary increase to $335,725.
  

3. Large Corporations (Fortune 500 & S&P 500):

• The median total compensation for CEOs in the S&P 500 was $16.8 million in 2024.
• The average total compensation reached $18.9 million in 2024, up 7% from the prior year.
• Median base salary alone for S&P 500 CEOs was $1.3 million, with bonuses and long-term incentive values making up the vast majority of the total package.

Top 50 Highest-Paid CEO in 2025:

This Curated List of CEOs with Highest Compensation has been derived from various sources. These rankings have been done by referring 2024 -2025 data and statistics available.

CEO	Company	Salary
Brad Jacobs	QXO, Inc	$189,367,735
Peter Gassner	Veeva Systems Inc	$172,436,133
Patrick Smith	Axon Enterprise Inc	$164,525,721
Sridhar Ramaswamy	Snowflake Inc	$101,325,374
Brian Niccol	Starbucks Corp	$95,801,676
Lawrence Culp	General Electric Co	$88,954,586
Ryan Saadi	Tevogen Bio Holdings Inc	$87,764,783
Michael Arougheti	Ares Management Corp	$85,381,842
Robert Antokol	Playtika Holding Corp	$84,141,574
Stephen Schwarzman	Blackstone Inc	$84,027,074
Jason Les	Riot Platforms, Inc	$83,532,328
Satya Nadella	Microsoft Corp	$79,106,183
Tim Cook	Apple Inc	$74,609,802
Joseph Bae	KKR & Co Inc	$73,087,375
Greg Lehmkuhl	Lineage, Inc	$69,341,442

1. Brad Jacobs:

Brad Jacobs is a serial entrepreneur and career CEO known for founding and leading multiple billion-dollar companies, including QXO, Inc., which is the largest publicly traded distributor of roofing and building products in the U.S. He is also executive chairman of XPO, Inc., a major freight transportation provider. Jacobs has a track record of transforming industries through technology, completing hundreds of acquisitions, and creating substantial shareholder value.

2. Peter Gassner:

Peter Gassner is the founder and CEO of Veeva Systems, a cloud-computing company focused on pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Under his leadership, Veeva has grown significantly and become a leader in providing industry-specific cloud software solutions that improve compliance, speed, and efficiency in drug development and commercialization

3. Patrick Smith:

Patrick Smith is the CEO of Axon Enterprise, a technology company known for developing conducted energy weapons, body cameras, and cloud-connected public safety software. Smith has driven Axon’s growth by expanding its product portfolio and integrating software services to enhance law enforcement transparency and accountability.

4. Sridhar Ramaswamy:

Sridhar Ramaswamy is CEO of Snowflake, a leading cloud-based data warehousing company. A former Google executive known for managing the advertising division, he now focuses on scaling Snowflake’s AI and analytics capabilities to serve global enterprises.

5. Brian Niccol:

Brian Niccol is one of highest-paid CEO who became Starbucks’ CEO after leading Chipotle Mexican Grill’s turnaround. He is credited with brand innovation, tech integration in operations, and driving customer experience across Starbucks’ global markets.

6. Lawrence Culp:

Larry Culp became GE’s chairman and CEO in 2018, leading its restructuring into three separate companies focused on aviation, healthcare, and energy. He is recognized for his operational discipline and value creation during GE’s challenging transformation.

7. Ryan Saadi:

Dr. Ryan Saadi, a public health leader and business executive, heads Tevogen Bio as CEO. He focuses on advancing novel immunotherapies for infectious diseases and is known for his efforts in affordable healthcare innovations.

8. Michael Arougheti:

Michael Arougheti is co-founder and CEO of Ares Management, a global alternative asset manager. He has overseen the firm’s expansion into private equity, credit, and real assets, significantly growing assets under management.

9. Robert Antokol:

Robert Antokol is the founder and CEO of Playtika, a mobile gaming company known for its social casino and casual games portfolio. He has driven the Israeli-based company’s global success with a focus on player engagement and data-driven development.

10. Stephen Schwarzman:

Stephen Schwarzman is co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative investment firm. Renowned for his deal-making expertise, he has grown Blackstone’s assets to over $1 trillion.

11. Jason Les:

Jason Les is CEO of Riot Platforms, a leading Bitcoin mining company in the U.S. A former professional poker player, he is credited with expanding Riot’s mining capacity and advocating for domestic blockchain infrastructure.

12. Satya Nadella:

Satya Nadella has been CEO of Microsoft since 2014, driving its transformation into a cloud-first, AI-driven technology leader. Under his leadership, Microsoft’s market value has more than tripled.

13. Tim Cook:

Tim Cook became Apple’s CEO in 2011 following Steve Jobs. Known for operational excellence, he has expanded Apple’s services segment and maintained its position as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

14. Joseph Bae:

Joseph Bae is co-CEO of KKR, one of the largest global investment firms. He oversees its private equity portfolio and expansion into new markets, especially in Asia.

15. Greg Lehmkuhl:

Greg Lehmkuhl is highest-paid CEO of Lineage, a leading temperature-controlled logistics provider. He has steered the company’s global expansion and sustainability initiatives in cold-chain storage. 

16. Ford Tamer:

Ford Tamer, CEO of Lattice Semiconductor, has transformed the company into a leader in low-power programmable logic devices. He’s known for driving innovation in AI, 5G, and industrial applications.

17. David Gitlin: 

David Gitlin leads Carrier Global, a pioneer in HVAC, refrigeration, and fire safety. Since becoming CEO in 2020, he has guided the company through its spinoff from United Technologies and strategic acquisitions.

18. Ted Sarandos:

Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, oversees content strategy and acquisitions. Under his leadership, Netflix has expanded globally, producing award-winning series and films.

19. David Simon:

David Simon is chairman, president, and highest-paid CEO of Simon Property Group, the largest retail REIT in the U.S. He’s known for pioneering the transformation of malls into mixed-use lifestyle destinations.

20. Jeffrey Stibel:

Jeffrey Stibel is vice chairman (and former CEO) of multiple tech and media companies, currently leading strategy at LegalZoom. He focuses on scaling customer acquisition and digital legal services.

21. Jay Farner: 

Jay Farner served as CEO of Rocket Companies, America’s largest mortgage lender, until 2023. Known for digital innovation in home loans, he helped scale Rocket Mortgage into a fintech powerhouse.

22. David Goeckeler:

David Goeckeler, CEO of Western Digital since 2020, has led the storage device manufacturer through a shift toward flash memory and cloud storage solutions. He previously spent nearly two decades at Cisco.

23. James Dondero:

James Dondero is co-founder of Highland Capital Management and leads NexPoint’s real estate investment strategy. His expertise lies in credit and alternative investments.

24. Craig Jelinek:

Craig Jelinek was CEO of Costco until early 2024, steering the company’s growth with a no-frills, membership-focused retail model. He maintained a reputation for taking care of employees and keeping prices low.

25. Michael Miebach:

Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, has focused on expanding the company’s digital payment ecosystem, cybersecurity offerings, and financial inclusion initiatives worldwide.

26. Bill Nash:

Bill Nash has led CarMax, America’s largest used-car retailer, since 2016. He’s driven omnichannel sales growth by integrating online and in-store car buying.

27. John Lawler:

John Lawler is Ford’s CFO and a key executive in the automaker’s EV transition. He has overseen company finances during a period of heavy investment in electric and autonomous vehicles.

28. Vince McMahon:

Vince McMahon, the longtime head of WWE, returned to a leadership role after the WWE-UFC merger into TKO Group. Known for shaping modern professional wrestling, he’s a prominent figure in sports entertainment and highest-paid CEO.

29. Dave Calhoun:

Dave Calhoun is Boeing’s CEO and has been focused on restoring the company’s reputation after safety and production challenges. He emphasizes engineering excellence and aerospace innovation.

30. Howard Schultz:

Howard Schultz, former long-time Starbucks CEO, returned in 2022 to guide the coffee giant through operational redesigns and labor relations challenges before handing over the role again in 2023.

31. Jane Fraser:

Jane Fraser is the CEO of Citigroup, making history as the first woman to lead a major Wall Street bank. Since taking over in 2021, she has focused on streamlining Citi’s global operations, exiting non-core markets, and strengthening risk management while preparing the bank for the digital future.

32. Chris Kempczinski:

Chris Kempczinski has been highest-paid CEO of McDonald’s since 2019, steering its global restaurant chain through modernization, delivery expansion, and brand revitalization efforts.

33. Marvin Ellison:

Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe’s, has refocused the home improvement retailer’s strategy on professional contractors, operational efficiency, and e-commerce growth.

34. Safra Catz:

Safra Catz has been Oracle’s CEO since 2014, overseeing massive cloud transformation efforts. She is recognized for her cost-control strategies and successful acquisitions.

35. John May:

John May, CEO of Deere & Company (John Deere), is ushering the farming equipment giant into precision agriculture through AI, data, and autonomous machinery.

36. Thomas Rutledge:

Thomas Rutledge served as CEO and now executive chairman of Charter, leading the Spectrum brand to become the second-largest U.S. cable operator through acquisitions and infrastructure investment.

37. Jamie Dimon:

Jamie Dimon has been CEO of America’s largest bank since 2005, making him one of the longest-serving and most influential leaders on Wall Street. He is known for navigating financial crises.

38. Andy Jassy:

Andy Jassy, who succeeded Jeff Bezos as Amazon CEO in 2021, previously built Amazon Web Services (AWS) into the market leader in cloud computing. He’s now driving the company’s e-commerce and AI initiatives.

39. Brian Chesky:

Brian Chesky co-founded Airbnb and turned it into a hospitality disruptor spanning millions of listings worldwide. He’s focused on expanding experiences and reimagining travel.

40. Doug McMillon:

Doug McMillon has led Walmart since 2014, embracing digital transformation, grocery delivery, and sustainability initiatives to keep the retailer competitive globally.

41. Mary Barra:

Mary Barra, GM’s CEO since 2014, is spearheading a complete shift to electric vehicles by 2035. She is the first woman to lead a major global automaker.

42. Mark Zuckerberg:

Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook, now Meta, and is driving the company’s pivot toward the metaverse while maintaining dominance in social media through Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

43. Darren Woods:

Darren Woods has been highest-paid CEO of ExxonMobil since 2017, balancing shareholder returns with investments in carbon-reducing energy technologies.

44. Richard Handler:

Rich Handler has led Jefferies since 2001, turning it into a significant player in investment banking and capital markets.

45. Alex Gorsky:

Alex Gorsky served as CEO of J&J for a decade, focusing on healthcare innovation and leading the company through the COVID-19 vaccine rollout before stepping down in late 2021, while retaining leadership roles.

46. John Stankey:

John Stankey became AT&T CEO in 2020, overseeing its telecom operations and media spinoffs while investing in 5G network expansion.

47. Rosalind Brewer:

Roz Brewer, one of the most powerful women and highest-paid CEO in corporate America, led Walgreens through a strategic pivot toward healthcare services and cost optimization.

48. Arvind Krishna:

Arvind Krishna has been CEO of IBM since 2020, driving its transformation toward hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence.

49. Tim Archer:

Tim Archer is CEO of Lam Research, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer critical to chip fabrication. He’s guiding the company through global chip demand growth.

50. William Thomas:

William B. Thomas is global chairman and Highest-paid CEO of KPMG, one of the Big Four accounting firms. He has emphasized technology-driven audit and advisory services and ESG initiatives.

Also Read: Why CEO Reputation Management Is a Survival Skill In 2025?

Conclusion:

The world of the Highest-Paid CEO is certainly one of extraordinary numbers. Their total compensation packages are well beyond anything typical salaries reflect. Again, the notion that payment reflects a CEO’s worth, whether through a salary, stock award, performance-based bonuses or any other benefits used to accumulate incredible wealth, goes far beyond the actual measure. 

These figures get to where the CEO is worth the extraordinary amount of pay they receive and where they take on significant responsibility guiding multi-billion dollar companies through the complexity of the global environment they are in.

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