How Fast Top CEOs Like Warren Buffett Make the Average US Salary in 2025

Warren Buffett arrives at 'The Post' Washington, DC Premiere at The Newseum on December 14, 2017 in Washington, DC.
SMG/SMG via ZUMA Wire / Shutterstock / SMG/SMG via ZUMA Wire / Shutterstock

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The salaries of the top CEOs are staggering compared to what the average worker takes home. For the average American, a full year of work brings in $62,088. But for leaders of Fortune 500 companies, that amount can be pocket change earned in mere hours. From tech giants like Apple and Alphabet to retail powerhouses like Walmart, CEO pay in 2025 shows just how wide the gap has grown.

According to an analysis from Resume.ai, here’s how long it takes the CEOs of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies to match the average U.S. salary.

1. Tim Cook

  • Company: Apple
  • Earnings per year: $74,609,802
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 7 hours, 12 minutes

2. Darren Woods

  • Company: ExxonMobil
  • Earnings per year: $33,634,893
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 16 hours, 2 minutes

3. Douglas McMillon

  • Company: Walmart
  • Earnings per year: $27,408,854
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 19 hours, 55 minutes

4. Andrew Witty

  • Company: UnitedHealth Group (CEO until May 2025)
  • Earnings per year: $26,339,215
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 20 hours, 40 minutes

5. Karen Lynch

  • Company: CVS Health (CEO until October 2024)
  • Earnings per year: $23,431,466
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 23 hours, 20 minutes

6. Brian Tyler

  • Company: McKesson
  • Earnings per year: $20,161,714
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 1 day, 2 hours, 53 minutes

7. Steven Collis

  • Company: Cencora (CEO until October 2024)
  • Earnings per year: $18,475,171
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 1 day, 5 hours, 33 minutes

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8. Sundar Pichai

  • Company: Alphabet
  • Earnings per year: $10,725,043
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 2 days, 2 hours, 39 minutes

9. Andrew Jassy

  • Company: Amazon
  • Earnings per year: $1,596,889
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 14 days, 4 hours, 48 minutes

10. Warren Buffett

  • Company: Berkshire Hathaway
  • Earnings per year: $405,111
  • Time needed to earn the average U.S. salary: 55 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes

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