The chief executive officers of America’s largest companies have enjoyed pay raises most years for decades. That was interrupted at some public corporations, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused some of them to agree to salary cuts due to a decline in earnings or large layoffs of their workers. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) data for corporate compensation in 2021 shows how sharp the reversal can be. Dozens of CEOs have pay packages that range into the tens of millions of dollars. The lowest-paid CEO in America, however, is also one of the world’s richest men: Warren Buffet. (And these are the lowest-paying American companies.)
America does have a tradition of the $1 CEO. Steve Jobs was paid only $1 each year from 1997 through 2011. Apple could have paid him more, and he could have claimed he was due much higher compensation. However, the $1 was meant to show that he was in the same boat as investors. He owned hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Apple shares. If the stock rose, he benefited along with the other shareholders.
Most other CEOs in the $1 club have been in the tech industry and have owned large parts of their companies. This club has included Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Jack Dorsey of Twitter.
Proxies, which show CEO and other top executive pay as required by the SEC, have been posted by most S&P 500 companies. MyLogIQ, which uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to sort and explore SEC data, has provided 24/7 Wall St. with compensation data for S&P 500 companies that have released their proxies. (Here’s a look at the largest company in every state.)
Click here to see the lowest-paid CEOs in America
Some CEOs received astonishingly high pay last year. David Zaslav of Discovery made over $246 million. The media company he runs is small by global media company standards. This year, however, he will gain control of Warner Media, because of a deal for him to manage AT&T’s media assets. Maybe then his remarkably high compensation will make sense – if he turns around the battered media company.
In contrast, there’s Warren Buffett. Buffet, who will be 92 years old later this year, took over Berkshire Hathaway in 1966. Through buyouts of dozens of companies, and partial ownership in others, he has built it into a public corporation with earnings of $90 billion last year. Its market cap is nearly $800 billion. Buffet has become among the richest people in the world, with a net worth of over $100 billion. Last year, Buffet’s pay was $373,204. His cash salary was $100,000. Berkshire’s shares have risen almost 100% in the past two years, so he has been extremely well-rewarded nonetheless.
Data provided by MyLogIQ
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
50. Jonathan J. Mazelsky
> Company: Idexx Laboratories Inc
> Total compensation: $9,065,021
> Salary: $976,923
> Stock awards: $1,500,029
> Short-term incentives: $2,062,500
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49. J. Kent Masters, Jr
> Company: Albemarle Corp
> Total compensation: $9,040,753
> Salary: $1,071,923
> Stock awards: $4,177,432
> Short-term incentives: $2,181,372
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
48. Donald G. Macpherson
> Company: W.W. Grainger, Inc.
> Total compensation: $9,015,594
> Salary: $1,090,225
> Stock awards: $5,241,816
> Short-term incentives: $2,343,000
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
47. Donnie King
> Company: Tyson Foods Inc
> Total compensation: $8,999,444
> Salary: $980,462
> Stock awards: $3,669,000
> Short-term incentives: $2,679,698
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Source: NoDerog / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
46. Matthew T. Farrell
> Company: Church & Dwight Co Inc
> Total compensation: $8,889,526
> Salary: $1,117,400
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: $1,130,800
Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
45. John N. Roberts Iii
> Company: Jb Hunt Transport Services Inc
> Total compensation: $8,801,881
> Salary: $937,115
> Stock awards: $6,042,085
> Short-term incentives: $1,175,000
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44. Craig W. Jelinek
> Company: Costco Wholesale Corp
> Total compensation: $8,752,252
> Salary: $1,032,885
> Stock awards: $7,049,636
> Short-term incentives: $460,000
43. Norman D. Schwartz
> Company: Bio Rad Laboratories Inc
> Total compensation: $8,695,925
> Salary: $987,885
> Stock awards: $4,126,907
> Short-term incentives: $2,132,330
Source: Wolterk / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
42. Liam J. Kelly
> Company: Teleflex Inc
> Total compensation: $8,673,634
> Salary: $981,539
> Stock awards: $2,664,264
> Short-term incentives: $1,684,260
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Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
41. Christopher M. Gorman
> Company: Keycorp/
> Total compensation: $8,653,484
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $3,869,989
> Short-term incentives: $3,300,000
40. Miguel Patricio
> Company: Kraft Heinz Co
> Total compensation: $8,605,599
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $3,743,976
> Short-term incentives: $2,875,193
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39. Mark Douglas
> Company: Fmc Corp
> Total compensation: $8,489,671
> Salary: $1,089,375
> Stock awards: $3,296,620
> Short-term incentives: $2,320,763
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
38. Gary W. Rollins
> Company: Rollins Inc
> Total compensation: $8,393,601
> Salary: $1,400,000
> Stock awards: $4,458,000
> Short-term incentives: $2,100,000
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia commons
37. Christophe Beck
> Company: Ecolab Inc
> Total compensation: $8,365,888
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $2,879,914
> Short-term incentives: $1,426,047
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Source: courtneyk / E+ via Getty Images
36. Gary L. Coleman
> Company: Globe Life Inc.
> Total compensation: $8,353,754
> Salary: $1,000,096
> Stock awards: $3,244,560
> Short-term incentives: $1,520,000
Source: SolisImages / iStock via Getty Images
35. Larry M. Hutchison
> Company: Globe Life Inc.
> Total compensation: $8,323,666
> Salary: $1,000,096
> Stock awards: $3,244,560
> Short-term incentives: $1,520,000
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34. Robert M. Blue
> Company: Dominion Energy, Inc
> Total compensation: $8,161,083
> Salary: $1,225,000
> Stock awards: $3,250,001
> Short-term incentives: $1,753,857
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images
33. Gary S. Guthart
> Company: Intuitive Surgical Inc
> Total compensation: $8,059,409
> Salary: $846,119
> Stock awards: $2,976,672
> Short-term incentives: $1,376,466
Source: naumoid / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
32. Jon Vander Ark
> Company: Republic Services, Inc.
> Total compensation: $7,925,408
> Salary: $906,539
> Stock awards: $4,665,286
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
31. Michael C. Petters
> Company: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
> Total compensation: $7,714,067
> Salary: $1
> Stock awards: $4,399,947
> Short-term incentives: $2,750,000
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / Getty Images
30. Curtis C. Farmer
> Company: Comerica Inc/
> Total compensation: $7,696,094
> Salary: $1,015,827
> Stock awards: $3,430,854
> Short-term incentives: $2,740,500
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Source: Feverpitched / iStock via Getty Images
29. Donald C. Wood
> Company: Federal Realty Investment Trust
> Total compensation: $7,520,917
> Salary: $950,000
> Stock awards: $5,213,719
> Short-term incentives: $1,335,938
24/7 Wall St.
Source: JamesBrey / E+ via Getty Images
28. Walter J. Lynch
> Company: American Water Works Company, Inc.
> Total compensation: $7,398,128
> Salary: $994,616
> Stock awards: $3,999,969
> Short-term incentives: $1,266,022
Source: Greg Cluff / iStock via Getty Images
27. Michael J. Schall
> Company: Essex Property Trust, Inc.
> Total compensation: $7,183,068
> Salary: $900,000
> Stock awards: $3,075,200
> Short-term incentives: $2,500,000
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Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
26. Richard E. Allison Jr
> Company: Dominos Pizza Inc
> Total compensation: $7,138,002
> Salary: $904,000
> Stock awards: $2,556,092
> Short-term incentives: $2,504,080
Source: Drazen Zigic / iStock via Getty Images
25. Lisa Palmer
> Company: Regency Centers Corp
> Total compensation: $7,026,315
> Salary: $900,000
> Stock awards: $3,950,257
> Short-term incentives: $2,160,000
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Source: Jupiterimages / Getty Images
24. Kevin J. Wheeler
> Company: A O Smith Corp
> Total compensation: $6,897,982
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $1,386,088
> Short-term incentives: $2,917,000
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23. Garrick J. Rochow
> Company: Cms Energy Corp
> Total compensation: $6,871,068
> Salary: $1,050,000
> Stock awards: $4,601,980
> Short-term incentives: $953,925
Source: M. Suhail / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
22. Rene F. Jones
> Company: M&T Bank Corp
> Total compensation: $6,868,174
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $3,400,240
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
21. Eric D. Ashleman
> Company: Idex Corp
> Total compensation: $6,719,772
> Salary: $900,000
> Stock awards: $2,323,931
> Short-term incentives: $1,467,000
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
20. Robert Mehrabian
> Company: Teledyne Technologies Inc
> Total compensation: $6,567,058
> Salary: $943,077
> Stock awards: $792,086
> Short-term incentives: $1,884,600
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Source: Courtesy of Cincinnati Financial
19. Steven J. Johnston
> Company: Cincinnati Financial Corp
> Total compensation: $6,490,767
> Salary: $1,103,055
> Stock awards: $1,475,180
> Short-term incentives: $2,761,844
24/7 Wall St.18. J. Kevin Akers
> Company: Atmos Energy Corp
> Total compensation: $6,467,314
> Salary: $900,077
> Stock awards: $2,957,744
> Short-term incentives: $900,077
17. Joseph R. Nolan Jr
> Company: Eversource Energy
> Total compensation: $6,467,078
> Salary: $1,004,424
> Stock awards: $1,441,650
> Short-term incentives: $2,250,000
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Source: Alphotographic / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
16. James S. Tisch
> Company: Loews Corp
> Total compensation: $6,119,523
> Salary: $975,000
> Stock awards: $900,000
> Short-term incentives: N/A
Source: Easyturn / Getty Images
15. Peter D. Arvan
> Company: Pool Corp
> Total compensation: $5,575,384
> Salary: $525,000
> Stock awards: $2,889,832
> Short-term incentives: $1,050,000
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Source: alvarez / E+ via Getty Images
14. F. Philip Snow
> Company: Factset Research Systems Inc
> Total compensation: $5,468,745
> Salary: $637,077
> Stock awards: $1,750,063
> Short-term incentives: $1,320,000
Source: alfexe / iStock via Getty Images
13. Jeffrey S. Lorberbaum
> Company: Mohawk Industries Inc
> Total compensation: $5,190,696
> Salary: $1,308,437
> Stock awards: $1,901,669
> Short-term incentives: N/A
Source: guvendemir / E+ via Getty Images
12. Benito Minicucci
> Company: Alaska Air Group, Inc.
> Total compensation: $5,130,162
> Salary: $572,269
> Stock awards: $2,685,881
> Short-term incentives: $892,090
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11. Harris H. Simmons
> Company: Zions Bancorporation, National Association
> Total compensation: $4,656,113
> Salary: $1,030,000
> Stock awards: $1,021,348
> Short-term incentives: $1,449,210
Source: Bossiema / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
10. Martin J. Lyons Jr
> Company: Ameren Corp
> Total compensation: $4,305,713
> Salary: $755,000
> Stock awards: $2,427,141
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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Source: Ridofranz / iStock via Getty Images
9. Richard J. Campo
> Company: Camden Property Trust
> Total compensation: $4,285,423
> Salary: $600,196
> Stock awards: $2,008,427
> Short-term incentives: $1,673,800
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Natee Meepian / iStock via Getty Images
8. Paul C. Saville
> Company: Nvr Inc
> Total compensation: $4,162,400
> Salary: $2,075,000
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: $2,075,000
Source: zhengzaishuru / iStock via Getty Images
7. Joseph Dominguez
> Company: Constellation Energy Corp
> Total compensation: $3,352,277
> Salary: $752,504
> Stock awards: $1,130,048
> Short-term incentives: $846,880
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
6. Chad R. Richison
> Company: Paycom Software, Inc.
> Total compensation: $2,958,410
> Salary: $753,701
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: $1,479,630
Source: PhonlamaiPhoto / Getty Images
5. Erik W. Carlson
> Company: Dish Network Corp
> Total compensation: $2,895,882
> Salary: $1,000,000
> Stock awards: $150,025
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
4. Daniel L. Florness
> Company: Fastenal Co
> Total compensation: $2,423,614
> Salary: $717,500
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: $1,165,000
Source: jetcityimage / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
3. Charles V. Magro
> Company: Corteva, Inc.
> Total compensation: $792,786
> Salary: $255,389
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: $531,700
Source: welcomia / iStock via Getty Images
2. A. Jayson Adair
> Company: Copart Inc
> Total compensation: $490,647
> Salary: $1
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
1. Warren E. Buffett
> Company: Berkshire Hathaway Inc
> Total compensation: $373,204
> Salary: $100,000
> Stock awards: N/A
> Short-term incentives: N/A
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