20 Companies Where the Ratio of CEO to Average Worker Pay Is Insane

In today's corporate world, the disparity between CEO compensation and the average worker's pay is a hot-button issue. In some companies, the gap is so vast that it raises questions about equity and fairness. Oftentimes, these CEOs make hundreds — sometimes even thousands — of times more than their employees, something basically unheard of in places like Japan, where CEOs earn dramatically less. The staggering difference has sparked debates on what this means for lower-level workers and the wider economy, as well as why corporate governance should be taken seriously.

Here are 20 well-known companies where the CEO-to-average-worker pay ratio is absolutely insane. 

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is known for its low prices and wide range of products. But this doesn't translate into extra pay for its workers. In 2023, CEO Doug McMillon earned nearly 1,000 times the average worker's salary, netting over $27 million. Meanwhile, Walmart employees could expect a starting wage of $14 an hour in 2023.

It's hard to imagine a world without the convenience and popularity of Amazon. Since launching in 1994, the e-commerce giant has revolutionized the way we shop. But that doesn't mean it distributes its wealth equally among all its workers. CEO Andy Jassy's pay was more than 6,474 times that of the average Amazon worker, with his earnings topping $212 million in 2021. 

Despite earning much less in 2022 — just $1.3 million — the disparity is still astonishing, especially given how his previous earnings were "intended to represent most of Mr. Jassy's compensation for the coming years," according to a proxy statement from Amazon. 

While the global fast-food chain serves millions of people everyday, its workers aren't compensated as handsomely. In 2023, McDonald's CEO and chairman Chris Kempczinski received a raise and was paid around 1,212 times that of the average employee. He snagged a salary of $19.2 million, including bonuses and stock. Meanwhile, the average pay for a line cook is less than $13 an hour.

Love or hate him, the pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has seen its stock skyrocket under CEO Elon Musk. His compensation plan, which was tied to Tesla's stock performance, resulted in earnings that were thousands of times greater than the average worker's pay. In 2023, Musk's net worth surged by $94 billion in combined earnings from X (previously known as Twitter), Tesla, and other investments. In 2018, the ratio for Musk (on compensation of $2.28 billion) was 40,668 times the median worker's pay, a very good year indeed.

The entertainment behemoth, renowned for its movies, theme parks, and media networks is another company known for its CEO-to-worker pay disparity. In 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger was paid over $31 million (about 500 times more than the average employee). The average salary for an entertainer/performer at Disney is $22 an hour.

Despite being one of the most popular beverages in the world, Coca-Cola continues to pay its regular employees minimal amounts while top executives snag millions. This disparity is highlighted by CEO and Chairman James Quincey's compensation, which was over $23 million in 2023, or about 1,800 times more than the average worker.

As one of the world's largest financial institutions, JP Morgan Chase offers comprehensive banking and financial services to a robust clientele. But that doesn't mean all its employees are cashing in. In fact, CEO Jamie Dimon was given a 4% raise in 2023 and was paid nearly 366 times the average worker's salary, totaling some $35 million. 

Goldman Sachs, another leading investment bank, has a ton of influence in the worlds of finance and economics. Unsurprisingly, CEO David Solomon's 2023 salary of nearly $27 million was nearly 200 times more than the average worker (174 to be exact). While investment bankers can also make substantial earnings (including bonuses and commissions), they still pale in comparison to its highest-ranked executives.  

While the athletic apparel giant is undoubtedly a major player in the sportswear market, this doesn't mean all its workers score big. In 2023, CEO John Donahoe earned approximately 975 times more than the average Nike employee, with a compensation package totaling over $32 million. The average retail worker at a Nike store makes about $15 an hour. 

While the global coffeehouse chain prides itself on fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity, it isn't as generous when it comes to compensating all its employees. In 2023, newly appointed CEO Laxman Narasimhan was paid over $14 million, or about 1,000 times what the average Starbucks worker makes. The average salary for a Starbucks barista in the U.S. is about $17 an hour.

As one of the largest and most influential companies within the energy sector, ExxonMobil has vast global operations. It is also one of the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas companies. In 2023, CEO Darren Woods earned about 200 times the average worker's pay in 2023, with a compensation package of nearly $37 million. Woods was given a 3% raise from the previous year. 

As one of the largest mobile providers in the U.S., AT&T serves more than 100 million customers nationwide. But CEO John Stankey's 2023 earnings of nearly $25.7 million were 193 times that of the average employee's. The pay ratio sheds light on the major differences in pay within the telecommunications industry.

Similarly, Verizon (another leading mobile and telecommunications provider), does not distribute its wealth evenly among its workforce. That said, the pay ratio isn't as drastic as some of these other companies. In 2023, CEO and Chairman Hans Vestberg's salary of $24 million was about 168 times more than the median pay of $167,334 (pretty good money for working at Verizon, we'd say).  

Offering everything from laundry detergent and shampoo to skincare products and diapers, Procter & Gamble is a consumer goods giant. But despite making billions in profit, its CEO-to-average-worker pay ratio is still insane. In 2023, its CEO Jon R. Moeller was paid more than $21 million, or 339 times more than what the average worker made. 

Operating in various sectors including aviation, healthcare, and energy, General Electric (GE) is a well-known multinational conglomerate that staffs over 125,000 workers. But CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr.'s 2023 salary of nearly $13.7 million was approximately 200 times that of the average employee's (201 times to be exact). 

Despite facing scrutiny over a number of aircraft malfunctions and the mysterious deaths of two whistleblowers, the aerospace giant is undoubtedly a key player in the aviation industry. Boasting more than 10,000 active aircraft, the company makes billions of dollars in profit every year. In 2023, CEO David Calhoun earned over 270 times the average worker's salary, with a compensation package of $32.8 million.

Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company, is known for being one of the first companies to launch the COVID-19 vaccine in late 2020. Despite getting slapped with a pay cut of 35%, CEO Albert Bourla's salary of $21.6 million was still 291 times higher than the average worker's salary of $74,000.

As one of the largest banks in the world, Citigroup offers a wide range of financial services and banking solutions to customers all over the globe. Despite netting nearly $10 billion in profit in 2023, CEO Jane Fraser received a 6% pay rise to take home nearly $26 million. Fraser's salary was 360 times more than the average worker's at Citigroup.

As a leading semiconductor manufacturer, Intel is crucial to the tech industry, especially given the global shortage in chips and semiconductors. But CEO Pat Gelsinger's total compensation of nearly $17 million in 2023 was about 168 times more than the average worker's. A silver lining? The average salary at Intel is over $100K.

As a leading multinational corporation, Johnson & Johnson produces a wide range of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer goods. But CEO Joaquin Duato's 2023 salary of over $28 million was 338 times that of the average worker's, highlighting the income inequality within the realms of healthcare and consumer goods. 

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