CEOs are receiving substantial pay packages as the US stock market prospers. The gap between CEO and employee compensation is widening, with CEOs earning 196 times more than the median employee in 2023, up from a ratio of 185 in 2022. The rise in CEO pay is outpacing that of employees, leading to frustration among workers struggling to keep up with living costs. Median total compensation for S&P 500 CEOs, which includes stock awards, increased by 12.6% in 2023 to reach $16.3 million, while employees saw a 5.2% increase to $81,467.
