CEO pay rose to $17.7M in 2025, widening the gap with median worker salary of $89,744, AP survey finds
By
The Associated Press
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
The article reports on the AP's annual CEO compensation survey, finding that typical CEO pay rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17.7 million, while median employee pay at S&P 500 companies was $89,744 (up 4.7%). The massive disparity means it would take a typical worker about 200 years to earn what their CEO made in one year. Tesla's Elon Musk topped the list with a pay package valued at $132 billion. The article explores the growing pay gap, shareholder perspectives, and the economic pressures still facing workers despite wage gains outpacing inflation.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe typical CEO compensation package rose nearly 6% in 2025 to $17.7 million, as company boards rewarded their top executives for bigger profits and higher stock prices.
The median employee at companies in the S&P 500 earned $89,744, reflecting a 4.7% increase year over year.
While that gain outpaced the rate of inflation in 2025, many workers were still feeling pinched by the accumulation of higher prices over the past few years.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk topped the survey with a pay package valued at $132 billion.
You might also wanna read
Starbucks CEO Earned 6,666 Times More Than Typical Employee in 2024, Widest Pay Gap Among Major Companies
The article reports on the widening pay gap between corporate executives and workers, highlighting Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol's compensation
cnn.com·10mo ago
Executive Excess 2025: CEO Pay and Stock Buybacks Soar at 100 Largest Low-Wage Corporations
The 31st annual Institute for Policy Studies Executive Excess report analyzes the 100 S&P 500 corporations with the lowest median worker pay
ips-dc.org·9mo ago
Tesla Proposes $1 Trillion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Tesla's board has proposed a $1 trillion compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, which would be the largest corporate pay package in history
reuters.com·8mo ago
Tesla Shareholders Approve Elon Musk's $1 Trillion Compensation Package
Tesla shareholders have approved Elon Musk's massive new compensation package, estimated to be worth up to $1 trillion, with over 75% of sha
The Verge·6mo ago