America’s Highest Paid CEOs in 2024

Key takeaways

• James Anderson, CEO of Coherent Corp., was the highest paid CEO in FY2024
• Coherent is an American manufacturer of semiconductors, with over 26,000 employees

CEO pay is heavily tied to stock performance

The median pay of American CEOs reached $16.8 million in 2024, though this is largely related to equity (shares in the company). It’s estimated that 99% of James Anderson’s total compensation is consisted of stock grants.