Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

In Indian corporations, where ambition meets strategy and innovation intertwines with leadership, a select group of individuals emerges as the torchbearers of success. These titans of Industry not only steer their companies towards unprecedented growth but also command huge compensation packages that reflect their invaluable contributions.From navigating complex Market dynamics to shaping the future of entire sectors, these Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) exemplify the peak of corporate leadership. In this post, let’s delve into the world of India’s highest-paid CEOs, where vision meets execution and where every decision echoes through the corridors of power and influence.

1. Thierry Delaporte (Wipro)

Attribute	Details
Name	Thierry Delaporte
Company	Wipro
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹82.4 crore
Key Contributions	Leading digital transformation and growth since July 2020.

Thierry Delaporte (Wipro)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Thierry Delaporte, the CEO and Managing Director of Wipro, earned ₹82.4 crore in FY23. He has been instrumental in steering Wipro towards a path of digital transformation and growth since taking over the role in July 2020 (Businesses Ranker) (Benzinga).

2. Pawan Munjal (Hero MotoCorp)

Attribute	Details
Name	Pawan Munjal
Company	Hero MotoCorp
Position	Chairman & Managing Director
Compensation	₹99.55 crore
Key Contributions	Expanded Hero MotoCorp’s global reach, making it the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer.

Pawan Munjal (Hero MotoCorp)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Pawan Munjal, leading Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, earned ₹99.55 crore. Though not a CEO by title, his compensation is notable for its size and impact on the automotive industry (Businesses Ranker) (Benzinga).

3. Salil Parekh (Infosys)

Attribute	Details
Name	Salil Parekh
Company	Infosys
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹56.45 crore
Key Contributions	Driving growth and innovation in digital services since 2018.

Salil Parekh (Infosys)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Salil Parekh, CEO of Infosys, received ₹56.45 crore in FY23. Under his leadership, Infosys has seen significant growth and innovation, especially in digital services (Businesses Ranker) (Benzinga).

4. Sandeep Kalra (Persistent Systems)

Attribute	Details
Name	Sandeep Kalra
Company	Persistent Systems
Position	CEO & Executive Director
Compensation	₹61.7 crore
Key Contributions	Expanding Persistent’s footprint in IT services since 2020.

Sandeep Kalra (Persistent Systems)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Sandeep Kalra, the CEO of Persistent Systems, earned ₹61.7 crore. He has been pivotal in expanding Persistent’s footprint in the IT services sector since becoming CEO in 2020 (Businesses Ranker) (Benzinga).

5. Nitin Rakesh (Mphasis)

Attribute	Details
Name	Nitin Rakesh
Company	Mphasis
Position	CEO & Executive Director
Compensation	₹59.2 crore
Key Contributions	Boosting growth in digital and cloud services since 2017.

Nitin Rakesh (Mphasis)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Nitin Rakesh, CEO of Mphasis, received ₹59.2 crore. His leadership has significantly boosted Mphasis’s growth, especially in digital and cloud services (Businesses Ranker) (Benzinga).

6. Sanjay Nayak (Tejas Networks)

Attribute	Details
Name	Sanjay Nayak
Company	Tejas Networks
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹52.3 crore
Key Contributions	Driving innovation in optical and data networking products.

Sanjay Nayak (Tejas Networks)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Sanjay Nayak, CEO of Tejas Networks, took home ₹52.3 crore. His role has been crucial in driving the company’s innovation in optical and data networking products (Benzinga) (Tofler).

7. Rajiv Bajaj (Bajaj Auto)

Attribute	Details
Name	Rajiv Bajaj
Company	Bajaj Auto
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹47.6 crore
Key Contributions	Maintaining Bajaj Auto’s strong market position in two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

Rajiv Bajaj (Bajaj Auto)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Rajiv Bajaj, CEO of Bajaj Auto, earned ₹47.6 crore. His strategic leadership has maintained Bajaj Auto’s strong position in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler markets (Businesses Ranker) (Tofler).

8. S N Subrahmanyan (Larsen & Toubro)

Attribute	Details
Name	S N Subrahmanyan
Company	Larsen & Toubro
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹35.67 crore
Key Contributions	Contributing significantly to L&T’s growth in engineering and construction.

S N Subrahmanyan (Larsen & Toubro)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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S N Subrahmanyan, CEO and MD of Larsen & Toubro, earned ₹35.67 crore. His extensive experience and strategic direction have significantly contributed to L&T’s growth in engineering and construction (Benzinga) (Tofler).

9. Sudhir Singh (Coforge)

Attribute	Details
Name	Sudhir Singh
Company	Coforge
Position	CEO & Executive Director
Compensation	₹33.94 crore
Key Contributions	Transforming Coforge into a leading player in IT services with a focus on digital and cloud solutions.

Sudhir Singh (Coforge)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Sudhir Singh, CEO of Coforge, received ₹33.94 crore. He has played a key role in transforming Coforge into a leading player in IT services, focusing on digital and cloud-based solutions (Benzinga) (Tofler).

10. Rajesh Gopinathan (Tata Consultancy Services)

Attribute	Details
Name	Rajesh Gopinathan
Company	Tata Consultancy Services
Position	CEO & Managing Director
Compensation	₹29.16 crore
Key Contributions	Maintaining TCS’s status as India’s largest IT services company.

Rajesh Gopinathan (Tata Consultancy Services)-Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

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Rajesh Gopinathan, CEO of TCS, earned ₹29.16 crore. His leadership has been instrumental in TCS maintaining its status as India’s largest IT services company (Benzinga) (Tofler).

FAQs on Top 10 Highest Paid CEOs in India

Who is the highest-paid CEO in India?
- The highest-paid CEO in India is C.P. Gurnani of Tech Mahindra, with an annual compensation of approximately ₹146 crore.
Who are the 10 highest-paid CEOs in India?
- The 10 highest-paid CEOs in India are:
  1. C.P. Gurnani – Tech Mahindra
  2. Mukesh Ambani – Reliance Industries Limited
  3. Kalanithi Maran – Sun TV Network
  4. Pawan Munjal – Hero MotoCorp
  5. Salil Parekh – Infosys
  6. Guenter Butschek – Tata Motors
  7. S.N. Subrahmanyan – Larsen & Toubro
  8. Rajesh Gopinathan – Tata Consultancy Services
  9. Sanjiv Mehta – Hindustan Unilever Limited
  10. Vijay Shekhar Sharma – Paytm
Who is the richest Indian CEO in the world?
- Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, is the richest Indian CEO in the world, with a net worth of several billion dollars.
What is the salary of CEO Ravi Kumar?
- As of the latest available data, Ravi Kumar’s salary specifics aren’t as widely publicized as the top 10 CEOs listed. Ravi Kumar is the CEO of Cognizant, and his compensation would be substantial, reflecting his position’s responsibility and the company’s global standing.
How is CEO compensation determined in India?
- CEO compensation in India is typically determined by the company’s board of directors and often includes a mix of salary, bonuses, stock options, and other incentives. It reflects the company’s performance, the CEO’s experience, and the competitive market rates.
Why do some CEOs in India earn so much?
- CEOs earn high salaries due to their critical role in steering the company, driving growth, making strategic decisions, and managing risks. Their compensation packages often reflect the company’s success and their ability to meet or exceed performance targets.
How has the trend of CEO compensation changed in India over the years?
- CEO compensation in India has seen a significant increase over the years, reflecting the growing scale and complexity of businesses, the competitive talent market, and the need to attract and retain top executive talent.
What sectors do the highest-paid CEOs in India belong to?
- The highest-paid CEOs in India belong to diverse sectors, including IT and technology (e.g., Tech Mahindra, Infosys, TCS), manufacturing and automotive (e.g., Hero MotoCorp, Tata Motors), telecommunications (e.g., Reliance Industries), consumer goods (e.g., HUL), and media (e.g., Sun TV Network).
How does the compensation of Indian CEOs compare to their global counterparts?
- While top Indian CEOs earn substantial salaries, their compensation often remains lower than that of their global counterparts, particularly in the US and Europe, due to differences in market sizes, revenue scales, and economic conditions.
Are there any regulatory caps on CEO compensation in India?
- There are regulatory guidelines in India regarding CEO compensation, particularly for public sector companies and firms with significant government ownership. However, in private sector companies, compensation is primarily determined by the board, with shareholder approval required for substantial remuneration packages.