Australia’s 10 highest-paid CEOs

By Grace Ormsby

November 20 2019
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A woman has been crowned with the title of highest-paid chief executive officer in Australia for the first time.

Macquarie Bank CEO Shemara Wikramanayake earned more than $18 million in the last financial year, according to the banking giant, placing her at the top of a new list of the nation’s top CEOs by salary.

Ms Wikramanayake was only appointed to the role on 1 December 2018.

According to data from OpenDirector and originally commissioned by the Australian Financial Review, just five Australian CEOS are now making $10 million-plus per year.

The data comes from total statutory pay reported in each company’s latest annual report, and is inclusive of the accounting value of shares and options in the year they are granted.

It was reported that “overall CEO pay has remained relatively modest compared with the $30 million-plus pay figures for the likes of Macquarie’s Allan Moss, Rupert Murdoch and Wal King” that emerged prior to the global financial crisis.

Across the top 50 CEOs, total remuneration has still increased – by 4 per cent on average.

It contrasts to general age growth that is currently sitting at 2.2 per cent.

Here are the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in Australia:

1. Shemara Wikramanayake, Macquarie

Total reported pay: $18,035,835
Change: -4.5 per cent

2. Gregory Goodman, Goodman

Total reported pay: $12,800,759
Change: +19.4 per cent

3. Paul Perreault, CSL

Total reported pay: $11,718,242
Change: +4.0 per cent

4. Michael Clarke, Treasury Wine Estate

Total reported pay: $11,387,045
Change: +2.3 per cent

5. Andrew Mackenzie, BHP

Total reported pay: $10,540,000
Change: -2.5 per cent

6. Andrew Wood, WorleyParsons

Total reported pay: $8,907,000
Change: +52.2 per cent

7. Peter Coleman, Woodside Petroleum

Total reported pay: $8,807,377
Change: -14.2 per cent

8. Sandeep Biswas, Newcrest Mining

Total reported pay: $8,406,667
Change: -1.7 per cent

9. Jean-Sebastien Jacques, Rio Tinto

Total reported pay: $8,185,333
Change: +37.9 per cent

10. Peter Botten, Oil Search

Total reported pay: $7,889,896
Change: +1.2 per cent

It’s been noted that these rankings do contrast with realised pay, which includes the actual value of shares and options which have vested in that year.

Only volunteered by some companies, this figure is what put Qantas CEO Alan Joyce at the top of a list compiled by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI).

Mr Joyce had pocketed $23,876,351 over the 2017-18 financial year.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

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