S&P 500 CEO Compensation Rises Sharply Driven by Equity Awards
CEO compensation in the U.S. continues to rise, with median pay for S&P 500 CEOs reaching $17.5 million in 2026 — a 63% increase since 2017 and up 6% from 2025. The growth is largely attributed to performance-based equity awards rather than base salary increases, with median award values rising by 46% over the past five years compared to just 16% for salaries. The report also highlights a significant increase in personal security benefits provided to CEOs at S&P 500 companies. Nearly one-third of these executives now receive such benefits — double from two years ago — as concerns about executive safety and business risk grow. Shareholders generally support CEO pay packages, with over three-quarters receiving more than 90% approval for their say-on-pay proposals. Despite overall strong shareholder backing, exceptional compensation decisions can face backlash; one example is Warner Bros. Discovery’s $165 million CEO award that received only 15.6% support.
Topics: CEO Pay Equity Awards Performance-Based Compensation Security Benefits