Wondering How Much Tech CEOs Earn? These Are 11 Highest Paid Tech CEOs

When a company does well, it’s the CEO that gains the biggest benefits. And there is one sector that is doing spectacular is the tech industry. Here is the list of 11 top-paid tech CEOs in the world.

1. Elon Musk

Company: Tesla/SpaceX

Salary: $513.3 million

The No.1 spot in the list belongs to Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. Although Tesla reportedly lost $1 billion, Musk still received $513 million as compensation. While his minimum wage has been mandated by the law, Musk’s actual income is from the massive stock options which have a connection with performance goals.

2. Tim Cook

Company: Apple

Salary: $141.6 million

Tim Cook is a familiar face in the tech world. Back in 2018, with Apple, he earned 280,000 performance-based as well as 280,000 time-based vested restricted stock. All was worth $126 million. That money didn’t include a $3-million-base salary, a $12-million-cash-bonus and $682,000 perks.

3. Nikesh Arora

Company: Palo Alto Networks

Salary: $130.7 million

Since June 2018, Nikesh Arora has worked as Palo Alto Networks’ CEO. Despite his inexperience in the field, he has helped the company earn a significant amount of profit. $19 mil in restricted stock was given to Arora as a sign-on award. The company also received stock options and stock awards worth $72 million and $29.3 million respectively.

4. Mark Hurd

Company: Oracle

Salary: $108.29 million

In 2018, the base salary of the Oracle CEO was $950,000. However, that money didn’t include $103.7 million of stock options, $32,470 perks, and a $3.7 million bonus. But he was not the only one to go home with a big paycheck. Including Hurd, the company’s top four executives with the highest pay took home with $400 million. Hurd just passed away at the age of 62.

5. Satya Nadella

Company: Microsoft

Salary: $42.9 million

In February 2014, Satya Nadella joined Microsoft. With Nadella, Microsoft, from being an OS company, has been successfully transformed into an online services provider.  He received a 66% increase in his compensation, making it $42.9 million.

6. Daniel Schulman

Company: Paypal

Salary: $38.8 million

As Paypal’s head, $38.8 million is the amount of money that Schulman receives. His first paycheck went back to 1982, which was only $208. It took him 18 years to reach where he is.

7. Mike Lawrie

Company: DXC Technology

Salary: $32.2 million

DXC Technology specializes in offering enterprise market IT services. Lawrie, as the company’s CEO, makes around $32.2 million annually. What about India-based employees’ annual salary? Just a bit more than $10,000.

8. Shantanu Narayen

Company: Adobe

Salary $28.4 million

Much of Adobe’s success is thanks to Shantanu Narayen. He shifted the company from desktop software and move towards the cloud. Glassdoor has ranked him as one of the top CEOs in the world, which probably explains why he takes home $28.4 million annually.

9. Marc Benioff

Company: Salesforce

Salary’ $28.4 million

Founder and CEO are not the only roles of Marc Benioff at Salesforce but he is also its capable angel investor.

10. Chuck Robbins

Company: Cisco

Salary: $21.3 million

Chuck Robbins has worked for Cisco since 1997. He became the company’s CEO in 2015. Each year, he makes around $21.3 million.

11. Ajay Banga

Company: Mastercard

Salary: $20.4 million

Ajaypal Singh Banga, as one of the few Indians who have made it to the list, is the CEO of Mastercard. Previously, under Barack Obama, he worked for the President’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.