TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters ANZ
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    HR Folk Talk FutureProofHR
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations BigInterview
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Top 10 highest paid CEOs in Australia

News • 27th Jul 2022 • 3 Min Read

Top 10 highest paid CEOs in Australia

LeadershipCompensation & Benefits

Author: People Matters Editorial Team People Matters Editorial Team
14.2K Reads
The highest paid CEOs earn about 132 times more than the average worker in Australia.

Which CEO is taking home the biggest pay?

The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) has revealed the highest paid CEOs among ASX-listed companies in the 2021 financial year.

Afterpay co-founders Anthony Eisen and Nick Molnar earned a combined $264.2m in FY21, breaking the record for CEO pay. The pair had exercised 1.5 million share options, allowing them to buy those shares at only $1. This was  when Afterpay’s actual share price was at $90.

Joining Eisen and Molnar in the list of highest earners are CSL’s Paul Perreault ($58.9m), Macquarie's Shemara Wikramanayake ($14.7m), and Woolworths’ Brad Banducci ($11.8m).

ACSI’s annual CEO Pay in ASX200 companies report also showed just how much chief executives around the country are being paid. The media pay for ASX 100 CEOs jumped from $5.85m in 2020 to $9.15m in 2021. 

That’s about 132 times larger compared to the $1,328 per week salary of an average Australian worker.

Read more: Firm under fire over alleged refusal to pay staff

Raking in the bonuses

Salaries aren’t the only ones fuelling the massive paydays for Australian chief executives. The average bonus awarded to bosses reached $2.31m. The figure broke the national record of $2.30m set in 2017.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce was the lone member of the ASX 100 CEOs that did not receive a bonus in either FY20 or FY21. Joyce reportedly earned $1.98m in 2021.

According to the ACSI report, the multimillion-dollar CEOs bonuses likely returned as companies bounce back from the impact of the Covid pandemic. Many businesses have started to phase out the temporary pay cuts they were forced to implement.

“After their lowest year on record, big bonuses have returned, but they haven't just rebounded, they've hit new heights,” ACSI Executive Manager Ed John said.

Read more: What is leadership?

“That's why investors, and ACSI, will be scrutinising closely the results-reporting season to see if this concerning trend of bonus 'catch-up' continues. This year's outcomes will be judged against a backdrop of difficult financial markets and an uncertain economic outlook.”

John also cautioned companies about paying bonuses to their CEOs, stating that they should be given in recognition of outstanding corporate performance.

“Bonuses for CEOs shouldn't be awarded for business-as-usual outcomes,” John pointed out. “Payments to senior executives have to be aligned with value created for shareholders and reflect true outperformance.”

Top 10 highest paid ASX 100 CEOs

1. Anthony Eisen & Nick Molnar – Afterpay ($264,222,249)

2. Paul Perreault – CSL ($58,914,531)

3. Mick Farrell – ResMed ($37,403,034)

4. Greg Goodman – Goodman Group ($37,105,490)

5. Robert Thomson – News Corporation ($28,690,792)

6. Michael & Matthew Heine – Netwealth Group ($25,846,554)

7. Alex Dorsch – Chalice Mining ($17,806,728)

8. Shemara Wikramanayake – Macquarie Group ($14,693,343)

9. Jack Truong – James Hardie ($13,321,625)

10. Brad Banducci – Woolworths Group ($11,788,098)

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

Hyundai Australia appoints Don Romano as CEO

NEWS • 12th Mar 2025 • 3 Min Read

Hyundai Australia appoints Don Romano as CEO

LeadershipAppointments#HRTech#HRCommunity
CEO Swami Raote asked to exit

NEWS • 7th Mar 2025 • 2 Min Read

CEO Swami Raote asked to exit

Leadership#HRTech#HRCommunity
Air New Zealand CEO resigns unexpectedly

NEWS • 6th Mar 2025 • 3 Min Read

Air New Zealand CEO resigns unexpectedly

LeadershipBusiness#HRTech#HRCommunity
NEXT STORY: Can a code of conduct keep social media communities safe?

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    Skype is dead: Did Microsoft's leadership let a billion-doll...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Keeping the C-suite in the C-suite - how do we reduce execut...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Return to office: the legalities

  • design-thinking-hr

    The trust factor: Why modern leaders can’t afford to overl...

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Write For Us

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

or

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.