Survey shows one-quarter of Americans urge CEOs to curb greed

A recent poll found that 25% of U.S. voters want corporate leaders to lower prices and stop greedy behavior, while 23% say executives should share more wealth.

A June poll of 1,001 registered voters, carried out by opinion research firm Echelon Insights and advisory group Brunswick Group, indicates that 25% of Americans want corporate chiefs to lower product prices and curb greed, while another 23% say executives should reduce their own pay and distribute wealth more broadly. Affordability emerged as the leading issue for 41% of those surveyed, with 23% pointing to the rising cost of living as a primary concern.

The results align with other recent surveys highlighting cost-of-living anxieties as a key factor in the upcoming midterm elections. In 2025, the average compensation package for CEOs of S&P 500 companies reached $17.7 million, a 6% increase from the prior year, whereas the median full-time U.S. worker earned $64,220 in early 2026, up 3.4% year-over-year. Additional messages to CEOs included calls for fair employee pay, better treatment of staff, and greater support for American jobs and communities. A separate Primerica study found 71% of Americans feel their income is not keeping pace with living costs, with food prices rising over 20% since 2022.