Australia’s CEO Pay Explosion: The Staggering Truth Behind the Top Earners
- Life360’s Chris Hulls takes the top spot with a whopping $47.7m in realised pay, 500 times the full-time average wage
- A clear trend emerges with US-based CEOs dominating the top 10 highest earners, taking half of the spots for the first time in history
- Australian investors and boards keep CEO pay levels in check, but bonuses remain a ‘given’ with only five CEOs missing out this year
- The average CEO in Australia’s top 100 listed companies earns 55 times more than the average wage earner, sparking concerns over income inequality
The annual list of Australia’s highest paid CEOs has been revealed, and the numbers are staggering. Chris Hulls, co-founder of Life360, has taken the top spot with a realised pay of $47.7m in the 2025 financial year.
This is almost 500 times the full-time average wage, leaving many to question the fairness of CEO pay in Australia.
But Hulls’ pay packet isn’t the only eye-watering figure on the list.
ResMed’s San Diego-based boss, Mick Farrell, came in second with $35.2m in realised pay, followed closely by News Corp’s Robert Thomson with $33.6m.
The top 10 highest earners this year are dominated by US-based CEOs, with five out of the top 10 spots taken by CEOs of US-domiciled companies.
So, what’s behind these massive pay packets? The answer lies in the way CEO pay is calculated.
Realised pay includes reported fixed pay and cash bonus, as well as the value of any equity or one-off cash incentive that vested during the reporting year.
In Hulls’ case, his wealth skyrocketed due to $36m in gains on exercising options granted in previous years.
But despite these staggering figures, ACSI’s research shows that Australian investors and boards have kept remuneration to a more reasonable level. ASX100 CEO fixed and cash pay levels are continuing to plateau, with a median salary of $1.83m.
This is still lower than the record year of 2012, when CEOs took home a median of $1.95m.
However, bonuses remain a ‘given’ in Australia’s largest companies. This year, only five CEOs missed out on a bonus, with the median bonus ranging between 60% and 77% of maximum bonus levels.
As Ed John, Executive Manager, Stewardship at ACSI, notes, “Investors cannot become complacent, with clear evidence that CEO bonuses continue to be a ‘given’ in Australia’s largest companies.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The dominance of US-based CEOs in the top 10 highest earners is a concerning trend. It suggests that Australian companies are increasingly looking to the US for talent, and that our own CEOs are being priced out of the market.
This could have serious implications for Australian business and the economy as a whole.
Furthermore, the massive pay packets of these CEOs raise questions about income inequality in Australia. With the average CEO earning 55 times more than the average wage earner, it’s clear that something is out of balance.
As security analysts say, “The growing wealth gap between CEOs and ordinary Australians is a ticking time bomb for social stability and economic growth.”
Law enforcement insiders warn that the lack of transparency and accountability in CEO pay could also lead to a lack of trust in corporate Australia.
“When CEOs are earning millions while the average worker struggles to make ends meet, it’s no wonder people are losing faith in the system,” they say.
Industry observers believe that the key to addressing these issues lies in greater transparency and accountability. “We need to see more detail on how CEOs are paid, and what they’re doing to earn their massive salaries,” they say.
“Only then can we start to rebuild trust in corporate Australia and ensure that our CEOs are truly earning their keep.”
