If AI Is Taking Jobs, Why Are CEOs Still Making Millions?

Why Do CEOs Make So F*cking Much?

Since the 1970s, CEO pay in the U.S. has skyrocketed by over 1,300%, now averaging $17 million annually—nearly 200 times the typical worker's salary.

This growth is driven by financial incentives rather than performance, with over 70% of executive packages tied to stocks and bonuses.

Boards of directors often inflate these salaries through peer comparisons, despite evidence that higher pay doesn't guarantee better results. While worker wages remain stagnant despite rising productivity, alternative models like

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are emerging to distribute wealth more equitably, reduce turnover, and increase long-term corporate stability.

CHAPTERS:
0:15 CEO Base salary
1:03 Financial incentives
1:58 Stock-based compensation
2:45 Executive packages
3:22 Strategic goals
4:07 Revenue targets
5:14 Wealth concentration
5:56 Internal votes
6:38 Corporate profits
7:19 Wage inequality

Produced by: Samantha Harvey
Edited by: Jacob Smith
Animation: Charlotte Brown
Additional Footage: Getty Images

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