Equilar Puts Median 2025 CEO Pay at $17.7 Million, Up 5.9% From 2023

14 articles · Updated · KARE11.com · May 27

$17.7 million was the median 2025 pay package for 337 S&P 500 CEOs in Equilar’s annual review, with half earning more and half less.
The increase from 2023 was driven largely by equity and cash incentives: median stock awards rose 11.5% to $10.9 million and bonuses climbed 10.1% to $2.7 million.
Base salary increased more modestly to $1.3 million, while perks jumped 17.7% to $310,369; more than half of companies granted no option awards, leaving the median at $0.
The sample covered companies filing proxy statements between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2026, and excluded CEOs in the job less than two years to avoid sign-on bonus distortions.

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