Australia's Top CEOs Earn Millions as Pay Outpaces Worker Wages

Chief executives of Australia's leading companies saw their compensation increase by 16 percent in the 2024-25 financial year, a rise that substantially exceeded the wage growth of their employees, according to a report by Ownership Matters for the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI).

The median ASX100 CEO earned approximately $4.8 million during this period. This figure is 45 times higher than the average annual earnings for a full-time Australian worker, which stood at $106,657, with a growth of 3.8 percent in the year ending November.

Chris Hulls, executive chairman of the family tracking app Life360, topped the list with earnings of $47.7 million in the 12 months leading up to June 30, 2025. Life360, founded in the U.S. and listed in Australia in 2019, delivered nearly 50 percent total shareholder returns over the year. Hulls, a U.S.-based former Air Force veteran, has been instrumental in the company's growth as a global leader in family safety and location-sharing technology. He also supports Australia's ban on social media for individuals under 16.

Hulls' compensation package included a base salary of $1.55 million, supplemented by nearly $43 million in share options. He was among five CEOs in the top 10 who are based in the U.S.

Other high earners include ResMed's Mick Farrell, who earned $35.2 million, and News Corp's Robert Thomson, with $33.6 million, both also based in the U.S. Macquarie Group boss Shemara Wikramenayeka was fifth on the list, earning $30.4 million.

Despite the recent surge in realized pay, the base salaries of ASX100 CEOs have remained relatively stagnant over the past 15 years. The median base pay was $1.83 million, a decrease from the $1.95 million recorded in 2012. The growth in take-home pay for these executives has been largely driven by increased bonuses and share-based incentives tied to company performance.

Ed John, executive manager of stewardship at ACSI, noted that Australian investors and boards have generally kept CEO pay increases in check compared to other regions. He added that when CEOs appear on the highest-paid list, their companies have typically demonstrated strong long-term performance. However, he cautioned that with bonuses awarded to all but five ASX100 CEOs, investors should remain vigilant and not allow bonuses to become an expectation for company leaders.

The median bonus for the period represented 70.7 percent of the maximum potential bonus. This figure has consistently remained between 60 percent and 77 percent of the maximum for the past 11 years, with the exception of 2020, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The highest-paid Australian-based chief executive was Vikesh Ramsunder of Sigma Healthcare, who joined the list following the company's merger with Chemist Warehouse. |

Chief executives of companies ranked between ASX101 and ASX200 have seen their fixed pay increase by 5.4 percent, reaching $1.14 million, indicating a different trend in compensation for leaders of slightly smaller listed entities. |