When we think of the biggest companies in India, the first things that come to mind are their products, services, and brand value. But behind every successful business is a leader who drives its vision, growth, and innovation. These leaders the CEOs not only shape the future of their companies but also influence entire industries. With such massive responsibilities, it’s no surprise that many of them take home some of the highest salaries in the country.
In recent years, CEO pay in India has seen a sharp rise, especially, IT, banking, telecom and FMCG sectors. Many of these top executives are now earning packages worth several crores, reflecting the value they bring to their organizations.
From transforming traditional businesses into digital powerhouses to leading billion-dollar mergers, these CEOs have proved that leadership can make all the difference. In this article, we take a closer look at the Top 15 Highest Paid CEOs in India, their salaries, and the leadership impact they have made in their industries.
How India’s Corporate Growth Story Is Reflected in High CEO Salaries
The growing compensation of India’s top CEOs reflects the country’s booming business environment and changes in the economy. More than just a personal benefit, high CEO pay is an indication of strong investor confidence, worldwide competitiveness, and successful company performance. These wages demonstrate India’s transition to innovation, technological development, and industrial expansion, establishing the nation as a major force in international marketplaces.
Economic Expansion Indicator: India’s corporate and economic momentum is demonstrated by the fact that CEO compensation frequently increases in tandem with firm revenues and profits. This tendency is influenced by rising corporate value, global market integration, and developments in manufacturing, technology, and financial services.
Worldwide Competitiveness Reward: Top CEOs oversee worldwide operations, international clients, and digital transformation projects. Their capacity to keep India’s competitive edge in international markets and cross-border transactions is reflected in their high compensation.
Booster of Investor Confidence: Attractive CEO packages show that investors have faith in executives who propel profitability, innovation, and revenue growth. These compensation levels show that they have faith in their ability to generate high returns for shareholders.
Professionalization of Management: India’s transition from family-run enterprises to professional management, which prioritizes merit, abilities, and global experience in steering billion-dollar corporations toward sustained expansion, is reflected in the high compensation of CEOs.
Emphasis on Innovation: India’s dedication to innovation is demonstrated by the compensation paid to CEOs in the tech, pharmaceutical, and growing sectors. To promote long-term competitiveness, leaders driving innovations in biotech, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and green energy are rewarded.
Sectoral Diversity: Growing CEO salaries highlight the variety of India’s business environment, ranging from IT to infrastructure and financial services. These patterns highlight the increasing role that a variety of industries play in promoting business and economic growth.
Essentially, the rising salaries of India’s CEOs reflect the country’s vibrant corporate expansion, indicating wealth, professionalism, and aspirations for worldwide expansion.
A Quick Comparison
| S.No | Name | Company | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C. Vijayakumar | HCLTech | ₹94.6 crore |
| 2 | Salil S. Parekh | Infosys | ₹80.62 crore |
| 3 | K. Krithivasan | TCS | ₹26.52 crore |
| 4 | Sashidhar Jagdishan | HDFC Bank | ₹12.08 crore |
| 5 | Ravi Kumar Singisetti | Cognizant | ₹134 crore |
| 6 | Thierry Delaporte | Wipro | ₹82.4 crore |
| 7 | Gopal Vittal | Bharti Airtel | ₹16.9 crore |
| 8 | Sanjiv Puri | ITC Limited | ₹23.5 crore |
| 9 | Sanjiv Mehta | Hindustan Unilever | ₹22 crore |
| 10 | V. Vaidyanathan | IDFC First Bank | ₹5.55 crore |
| 11 | N. Chandrasekaran | Tata Sons | ₹21.4 crore |
| 12 | Sunil Duggal | Vedanta Ltd. | ₹19.5 crore |
| 13 | Sandeep Bakhshi | ICICI Bank | ₹9.6 crore |
| 14 | Suresh Narayanan | Nestlé India | ₹17.2 crore |
| 15 | Sanjiv Bajaj | Bajaj Finserv | ₹13.7 crore |
List of Top 15 Highest Paid CEOs in India
1. C. Vijayakumar
Company: HCLTech
Salary: ₹94.6 crore
C. Vijayakumar is the chief executive officer and managing director of HCLTech since 2016. His compensation amounted to almost 94.6 crore in FY 2024-25, which is the highest among the Indian IT leaders in the position of CEO. These were his package of fixed pay, performance bonuses and stock incentives, and they show that the company was performing well and that he was at the helm and driving the company towards a direction.
HCLTech has experienced a tremendous growth in the global presence under his leadership, with billion-dollar agreements and an increase in its cloud and digital services portfolio. He has helped transform the company into a modern and innovativeness-based enterprise which was previously a traditional IT services provider.
Leadership Impact: Vijayakumar is credited with enhancing shareholder value, driving long-term digital transformation strategies, and building HCLTech into a global tech powerhouse.
2. Salil S. Parekh
Company: Infosys
Salary: ₹80.62 crore
Salil Parekh, the current CEO and MD of Infosys, made ₹80.62 crore in FY 2024-25, which is 22 percent more than the year before. His increment was mainly influenced by performance based incentives and stock option exercises as Infosys aligned executive reward with performance.
He has been working on enhancing the digital and AI capacity of Infosys and maintaining its steady growth even as the world slows down with global IT. The stability in the company has been achieved thanks to Parekh who took the helm after the other leadership changes and helped the continued reputation of Infosys as a dependable international IT partner.
Leadership Impact: Parekh is known for his steady, client-centric leadership style, emphasis on governance, and ability to balance profitability with innovation.
3. K. Krithivasan
Company: TCS (Tata Consultancy Services)
Salary: ₹26.52 crore
K. Krithivasan, one of the Highest Paid CEOs in India, took over as the CEO of TCS in 2023 and earned approximately ₹26.52 crore during FY 2024-25, marking moderate growth over the previous year. His compensation package included salary, commissions, and other benefits, reflecting the Tata Group’s traditionally conservative executive compensation philosophy.
Krithivasan brings extensive experience in the banking and financial services industry, having worked at TCS for more than 30 years. Since taking the helm, he has focused on keeping TCS at the forefront of digital transformation, platform-based solutions, and strengthening international client relationships.
Leadership Impact: Krithivasan is recognized for maintaining TCS’s position as India’s largest IT services company while preparing it for the next phase of digital growth.
4. Sashidhar Jagdishan
Company: HDFC Bank
Salary: ₹12.08 crore
Since 2020, Sashidhar Jagdishan has been the MD and CEO of HDFC Bank. His annual compensation increased by approximately 12 per cent to approximately ₹12.08 crore in FY 2024-25. Fixed salary, allowances and performance based bonus were incorporated in the pay structure.
He has managed HDFC bank to maneuver its historic merger with HDFC Ltd to form one of the largest banking institutions in the world. He has been working on the growth of digital banking, risk management, and expansion of the bank in the retail sector of India.
Leadership Impact: Jagdishan is credited with executing India’s largest financial merger while maintaining growth momentum and digital innovation at HDFC Bank.
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5. Ravi Kumar Singisetti
Company: Cognizant
Salary: ₹134 crore
In January 2023, new CEO Ravi Kumar Singisetti was given an annual target compensation package worth a little over 134 crores in FY 2024. Much of this was based on performance-related stock-based awards and vesting schedules, and his actual compensation was a little less but still one of the highest of any Indian-origin CEO.
He has been spearheading Cognizant turnaround by enhancing efficiency, improving profitability, and diversifying its portfolio into Artificial Intelligence, cloud and consulting services. He has been preoccupied with restoring the client’s confidence and rebranding Cognizant in opposition to the global IT players.
Leadership Impact: Ravi Kumar is seen as a transformational leader who is guiding Cognizant into its next growth phase by focusing on AI-driven solutions and cultural change.
6. Thierry Delaporte
Company: Wipro
Salary: ₹82.4 crore
Thierry Delaporte,CEO and MD of Wipro since 2020, earns close to ₹82.4 crore in FY 2024-25, making him one of the top-paid CEOs in India. His compensation package includes fixed pay, bonuses, and performance-based stock grants, reflecting Wipro’s focus on global growth and expansion.
Under Delaporte’s leadership, Wipro has undergone major restructuring to become a more agile and client-driven organization. His tenure has been marked by aggressive acquisitions, digital transformation initiatives, and increased emphasis on cloud and consulting services.
Leadership Impact: Delaporte is recognized for globalizing Wipro’s operations, strengthening its brand as a digital transformation partner, and bringing in a performance-driven culture.
7. Gopal Vittal
Company: Bharti Airtel
Salary: ₹16.9 crore
Gopal Vittal, chief executive officer of Bharti Airtel since 2013, earned approximately 16.9 crore in FY 2024-25. His pay is in the form of base salary, bonuses as well as stock options which are based on long term performance objectives.
Vittal has played a major role in the success of Airtel as one of the leading telecom operators in India, particularly, in the period of high competition with Reliance Jio. He has been working on 5G infrastructure, customer experience, fintech and digital services diversification.
Leadership Impact: Vittal is credited with making Airtel a resilient, innovation-driven telecom leader and ensuring its strong position in India’s digital future.
8. Sanjiv Puri
Company: ITC Limited
Salary: ₹23.5 crore
The Chairman and MD of ITC, Sanjiv Puri, made approximately ₹23.5 crore in FY 2024-25. His package comprised salary, allowances, perquisites and performance incentive based package. This is an expression of the expansion of ITC in the FMCG, hotels and agri-business under his watch.
Puri has been driving the diversification strategy of ITC as it has gone beyond cigarettes in its interests, diversifying into packaged food, personal care and digital-first initiatives. His management has assisted ITC to increase the margins, spread to various parts of the world, and remain one of the most valuable conglomerates in India.
Leadership Impact: Puri is recognized for reinventing ITC into a modern, diversified FMCG giant and driving long-term sustainable growth.
9. V. Vaidyanathan
Company: IDFC First Bank
Salary: ₹5.55 crore
V. Vaidyanathan, one of the highest Paid CEO and Managing Director of IDFC First Bank, was paid ₹5.55 crore in FY 2024-25, marking a 4.5 percent increase over the previous year. In addition to his salary, he received over 24.2 lakh stock options worth approximately ₹18 crore, reflecting his focus on long-term shareholder value.
Under Vaidyanathan’s leadership, IDFC First Bank has undergone a remarkable transformation. He successfully merged Capital First, a non-banking financial organization he had founded, with IDFC Bank in 2018 to create a strong retail banking entity. His focus on digital banking, customer-centric strategies, and sound risk management has significantly strengthened the bank’s position.
Leadership Impact: Vaidyanathan is celebrated for his entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership. His commitment to ethical banking practices and employee welfare—evidenced by his practice of gifting shares to staff has fostered a culture of trust and accountability within the organization
10. N. Chandrasekaran
Company: Tata Sons
Salary: ₹21.4 crore
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, received about ₹21.4 crore in FY 2024-25. His pay reflects both his executive role in Tata Sons and his responsibility in steering multiple Tata Group companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Air India.
Chandrasekaran has been central to the Tata Group’s transformation, particularly its entry into emerging technologies, e-mobility, and digital ecosystems. He has also been credited with bringing financial discipline and modern governance across the conglomerate.
Leadership Impact: Chandrasekaran is seen as a visionary leader who is reshaping the Tata empire into a future-ready, digitally enabled business powerhouse.
11. Sunil Duggal
Company: Vedanta Ltd.
Salary: ₹19.5 crore
Sunil Duggal, CEO of Vedanta Ltd., earned an annual income of approximately ₹19.5 crore in FY 2024-25. His remuneration package combines fixed pay and performance-based incentives, reflecting Vedanta’s focus on resource efficiency and sustainability.
Under Duggal’s leadership, Vedanta has prioritized renewable energy, growth in metal production, and digitalization of processes. Despite volatile commodity markets, he has maintained steady growth while emphasizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
Leadership Impact: Duggal is known for steering Vedanta toward sustainability goals while keeping it competitive in global natural resources markets.
12. Sandeep Bakhshi
Company: ICICI Bank
Salary: ₹9.6 crore
Sandeep Bakhshi, MD and CEO of ICICI Bank since 2018, earned around ₹9.6 crore in FY 2024-25. His pay package includes salary, allowances, and performance-linked incentives, in line with RBI regulations for private banks.
Bakhshi has overseen a remarkable turnaround at ICICI Bank, improving asset quality, strengthening digital banking, and boosting profitability. His tenure has helped ICICI Bank regain market trust after previous governance challenges.
Leadership Impact: Bakhshi is credited with restoring credibility at ICICI Bank and positioning it as one of India’s most profitable private sector banks.
13. Suresh Narayanan
Company: Nestlé India
Salary: ₹17.2 crore
Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and MD of Nestlé India, earned about ₹17.2 crore in FY 2024-25. His pay structure includes fixed salary, performance-based incentives, and perquisites.
He is best known for leading Nestlé India’s revival after the Maggi noodles crisis in 2015, bringing the brand back to market leadership. Under his leadership, Nestlé India has focused on health, nutrition, and rural market expansion.
Leadership Impact: Narayanan is admired for his crisis management, brand rebuilding expertise, and ability to steer Nestlé India into sustained double-digit growth.
14. Sanjiv Bajaj
Company: Bajaj Finserv
Salary: ₹13.7 crore
Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and MD of Bajaj Finserv, received around ₹13.7 crore in FY 2024-25. His package reflects the group’s strong financial services growth and expansion across lending, insurance, and digital finance.
Bajaj has been instrumental in building Bajaj Finserv into one of India’s top non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), with a strong presence in consumer finance, insurance, and wealth management. His focus has been on technology-driven financial inclusion.
Leadership Impact: Bajaj is known for pioneering digital-first finance solutions and making Bajaj Finserv a leading player in India’s NBFC and insurance sector.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the role of a CEO goes far beyond just earning a high salary. These executives are the visionaries that propel their businesses ahead, make difficult choices, and motivate staff to succeed more. The Top 15 Highest Paid CEOs in India are recognized for their substantial contributions to respective sectors, from embracing digital change to broadening their worldwide reach, in addition to their diligent efforts.
Their experiences demonstrate that what really distinguishes these CEOs are their capacity for innovation, strategic thinking, and great leadership. Lessons about leadership, business development, and the significance of vision in creating a successful organization can be learned from examining their experiences.
FAQs
Do CEOs in India Earn More in IT or Banking Sectors?
Generally, top IT CEOs earn higher compensation compared to banking CEOs because IT companies offer large performance-linked incentives and stock options.
What Factors Determine a CEO’s Salary in India?
A CEO’s salary usually depends on company size, revenue, profitability, industry, individual performance, and long-term incentives like stocks or bonuses.
Are These Salaries Only Cash-Based?
No, most CEO pay packages include a mix of base salary, bonuses, stock options, performance incentives, and other perks.
