The highest-paid CEOs in 2026 highlight how much major companies are willing to pay their top executives. According to a ranking compiled by Equilar and The New York Times, nine of the 10 highest-paid CEOs received compensation packages worth at least US$100 million.
In 2025 the average pay of the 100 highest-paid CEOs went up to $39.4 million a rise of 35.8% compared to the previous year. The list is made based on the money given to executives in 2025, which includes salaries, bonuses, shares and other benefits.. These numbers might not show the exact cash that executives get because shares and options are valued on the day they are given.
Here are the 10 highest paid CEOs in 2026.
| Rank | CEO | Company | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | Tesla | US$132.3 billion |
| 2 | Dylan Field | Figma | US$864 million |
| 3 | Shankh Mitra | Welltower | US$821 million |
| 4 | Kasra Nejatian | Opendoor | US$741 million |
| 5 | RJ Scaringe | Rivian | US$403 million |
| 6 | Niraj Shah | Wayfair | US$281 million |
| 7 | Hock Tan | Broadcom | US$205 million |
| 8 | David Zaslav | Warner Bros. Discovery | US$165 million |
| 9 | David Solomon | Goldman Sachs | US$119 million |
| 10 | Nikesh Arora | Palo Alto Networks | US$100 million |
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Elon Musk stood out in a way. The CEO of Tesla got a compensation package US$132.3 billion. That made him the paid CEO in the United States in 2025. His pay was 153 times more than the second highest-paid CEO.
FAQs
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, ranks first on this list, with reported compensation of US$132.3 billion.
The list includes Elon Musk, Dylan Field, Shankh Mitra, Kasra Nejatian, RJ Scaringe, Niraj Shah, Hock Tan, David Zaslav, David Solomon, and Nikesh Arora.
Elon Musk has reported compensation of US$132.3 billion in this ranking. This figure should not be interpreted as his annual cash salary.
CEO compensation can include base salary, bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and other benefits. Stock and option awards are generally valued when granted, so total compensation may differ from the cash an executive receives.
Tesla ranks first in this list through its CEO, Elon Musk, whose reported compensation is US$132.3 billion.
No. Annual salary is only one part of a CEO’s compensation. Bonuses, stock awards, and stock options can make up a much larger share of the total package.
