CEO compensation surged to record levels in 2025 as ordinary workers faced stagnant wages, according to new data from the International Trade Union Confederation and Oxfam. The gap between executive and worker pay widened dramatically, with CEO compensation rising 11 percent in real terms while global worker wages increased just 0.5 percent.
The disparity proved even starker when measured across the six-year period from 2019 to 2025. Real CEO pay jumped 54 percent during that span, while actual worker pay fell 12 percent globally. This 20-to-1 ratio underscores deepening income inequality across major economies.
Broadcom CEO Hock Tan topped the compensation charts, earning over $205 million in 2025 through salary, bonuses, and stock awards. At least three other chief executives at major corporations each collected more than $100 million in annual pay. These figures dwarf typical worker compensation packages by orders of magnitude.
Wealth concentration reached extremes beyond CEO salaries. Billionaires collected $2,500 per second through dividend income in 2025, according to the analysis. This passive income generation for the ultra-wealthy contrasted sharply with active wage earners watching purchasing power decline.
The International Trade Union Confederation and Oxfam responded by calling for aggressive policy interventions. Both organizations demanded higher tax rates on the richest individuals and corporations, coupled with binding legal limits on executive compensation. They framed the issue as central to combating global inequality and ensuring fair distribution of corporate profits.
The findings arrive amid renewed political debate over wealth taxation and income inequality. Worker advocacy groups have amplified calls for wage floors tied to executive compensation, while business organizations defend current pay structures as necessary for attracting and retaining top talent. The compensation gap reflects broader questions about how corporations allocate profits between executive leadership,