Retail CEOs Earned Median Worker Annual Pay in One Day Last Year

Business Insider examined recently filed proxy statements from 25 large retail and restaurant companies and calculated how much each chief executive received per day in 2025. The median annual pay for retail salespersons stood at $34,750 in 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. In most cases examined, the listed CEOs received that amount or more in a single day.

Williams-Sonoma recorded the highest daily total at $91,226. Doug McMillon of Walmart received $80,112 per day, and Brian Niccol of Starbucks received $84,912 per day. Ron Vachris of Costco recorded $38,171 per day while the company's median worker pay reached $49,186, the highest median worker figure among the companies reviewed.

Todd Vasos of Dollar General received $22,365 per day against a median worker pay of $18,876. Chris Kempczinski of McDonald's received $56,369 per day against a median worker pay of $19,020. The review covered base salary, stock awards, and other compensation disclosed in the proxy statements.

One entry combined pay for two individuals at Yum Brands after a leadership change in October 2025.