Fashionable CEOs make staggering quantities of cash. The top honchos at a number of the world’s greatest tech and leisure firms rake in compensation packages value tens—and even tons of—of thousands and thousands of {dollars} yearly.
The CEOs of America’s greatest automakers had been no exception in 2025. Even with combined monetary outcomes throughout the business, CEOs at firms like Ford, Common Motors, Rivian, Stellantis, and Tesla earned tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} final 12 months, lots of them greater than the 12 months earlier than.
Elon Musk led the pack by a large margin, thanks largely to a controversial stock-based compensation package deal accepted by shareholders late final 12 months. RJ Scaringe adopted in a distant—although nonetheless massively spectacular—second, whereas Mary Barra and Jim Farley noticed extra modest will increase.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk: $8.8 Billion* (est.)
Photograph by: Tesla
Musk’s earnings include a giant asterisk. Reasonably than a conventional wage, his earnings are tied to long-term stock-based incentive plans. Estimates from NPR recommend that, when unfold throughout 10 years, the worth of that large compensation package deal accepted by firm shareholders in November comes out to roughly $8.8 billion per 12 months. It might be kind of, relying on how Tesla’s inventory performs.
Even by fashionable CEO requirements, that determine is ridiculously excessive. It follows a troublesome 12 months for the Tesla model, with world gross sales declining by about 8.6 p.c and earnings reportedly dropping considerably. Nonetheless, Musk stays the world’s richest particular person, with an estimated web value of over $800 billion.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe: $402.6 Million
Photograph by: Rivian
Second solely to Musk of America’s top-earning auto CEOs is Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, whose complete compensation topped $402.6 million in 2025. Regardless that his base wage was a scant $1.1 million, the majority of his earnings got here from shares. Scaringe earned over $373 million in choices and $26.6 in inventory awards, alongside a hefty $1 million bonus.
Even with that sizable compensation package deal, Rivian didn’t precisely have a stellar 12 months. The corporate noticed gross sales decline by roughly 18 p.c year-over-year, with the corporate delivering simply over 42,000 autos. The arrival of the R2 later this 12 months may assist Rivian flip issues round.
GM CEO Mary Barra: $29.9 Million
Photograph by: Common Motors
Common Motors CEO Mary Barra earned $29.9 million in 2025—a modest 1.3 p.c enhance from the earlier 12 months. Her complete compensation included a $2.1 million base wage, $21.6 million in inventory awards, and roughly $5 million in incentive-based pay. To this point in her 12 years as CEO, Barra has earned greater than $300 million.
Firm stakeholders, although, may argue that her earnings had been nicely deserved. Even amidst the automaker’s current EV struggles and main losses related to them, GM noticed its gross sales enhance by 6 p.c in 2025, with income reaching roughly $185.0 billion.
Ford CEO Jim Farley: $27.5 Million
Photograph by: Ford
Ford CEO Jim Farley earned $27.5 million in 2025—an 11 p.c enhance in comparison with final 12 months and a profession excessive. His complete compensation included a $1.7 million base wage, $18.8 million in inventory awards, $5.7 million in incentive pay, and $1.2 million in different advantages.
Like GM, Ford delivered a comparatively sturdy efficiency final 12 months. Gross sales climbed by 6 p.c to greater than 2.2 million autos, with income reaching $187.3 billion.
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa: $6.3 Million
Photograph by: Stellantis
Antonio Filosa took over as the top of Stellantis in June of 2025, and his wage displays that. The brand new boss “solely” earned $6.3 million final 12 months, which covers six months of compensation. Outgoing CEO Carlos Tavares, by comparability, made $14 million on his method out the door. Tavares additionally took house over $42.0 million in 2023, his most worthwhile 12 months.
