CEO pay rose to $17.7M in 2025, widening 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 widening pay gap 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 how boards justify these packages, the role of stock-based compensation, and the ongoing debate about income inequality.
Key quotes
· 3 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.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk topped the survey with a pay package valued at $132 billion.
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