CEO pay increased 20 times faster than worker pay globally in 2025, according to a new analysis by Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. When adjusted for inflation, real wages for workers fell 12% between 2019 and 2025, while CEO compensation rose by 54% over the same period.
The average CEO received $8.4m (£6.7m) in total compensation in 2025, up from $7.6m in 2024. Billionaires were paid $2,500 a second in dividends, meaning the average billionaire earned more in two hours than a worker earned in a year. The wealth of billionaires hit record highs in 2026, increasing by $4tn over the past 12 months.
Inequality in the US was worse than the global average, with CEO pay rising 20.4 times faster than worker pay. For 384 S&P 500 CEOs, pay increased by 25% from 2024 to 2025, while average hourly earnings for private sector workers rose just 1.3%.
Luc Triangle, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said: “This analysis exposes the billionaire coup against democracy and its costs for working people.” The top 10 highest-paid CEOs collectively received over $1bn, with Blackstone, Broadcom, Goldman Sachs and Microsoft each paying their CEOs more than $100m.
Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, called for governments to cap CEO pay, tax the super-rich fairly, and ensure minimum wages keep pace with inflation. “These measures can create economies that reward work, invest in communities and hold powerful interests accountable,” he said.
