Overview
- The HRI analysis, reported Sunday, found total 2025 pay for DAX chiefs reached €261.3 million, a 12.9% increase based on reports from 38 firms, with Airbus and Qiagen excluded.
- Average pay came to about €6.9 million per CEO, and seven chiefs earned more than €10 million.
- SAP’s Christian Klein led with €16.24 million, followed by Deutsche Bank’s Christian Sewing at about €15.7 million, Siemens’ Roland Busch at €12.3 million, and Allianz’s Oliver Bäte and Deutsche Telekom’s Tim Höttges near €11.6 million, while Rheinmetall’s Armin Papperger moved above €10 million.
- Special payments such as severance and a stronger tie to share prices drove the jump as DAX stocks rose about 23% in 2025, boosting stock-linked bonuses.
- Worker pay grew far more slowly, with nominal wages up 4.2% in 2025 according to Destatis, sharpening the gap between executive pay and typical earnings.