CEOs of America's lowest-paying giants earn over six hundred times their workers
The Institute for Policy Studies found that CEOs at the 100 S&P 500 firms with the lowest median worker wages earned 614 times more than the average employee in 2025.
A new report by the Institute for Policy Studies examined the 100 S&P 500 companies with the lowest median employee pay and discovered that CEOs earned 614 times the typical worker’s salary in 2025. CEO compensation climbed 41.4% from 2019 to 2025, outpacing the 20.7% rise in median worker pay, while inflation ran at 25.9%. Average CEO earnings were $17.5 million versus a median worker wage of $36,571, widening the pay gap by 8.4% over the period.
The study notes that at least 36 billionaires, such as Jeff Bezos, Mackenzie Scott, and members of the Walton family, have fortunes tied to these firms. It also points to a combined lobbying force of 1,282 registered federal lobbyists and record stock buybacks totaling $108.6 billion in 2025. Walmart led buybacks with $8.1 billion, while its former CEO Doug McMillan received $29.2 million, 958 times the median Walmart worker’s pay. The report calls for policy measures like higher taxes on excessive executive pay and restrictions on stock buybacks.
Why it matters
The widening gap between executive and worker pay raises concerns about economic inequality and corporate influence on policy.
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