Executive compensation: reality is different than what Americans believe

From a nationwide Stanford University survey:

The typical American believes a CEO earns $1.0 million in pay (average of $9.3 million), whereas median reported compensation for the CEOs of these companies is approximately $10.3 million (average of $12.2 million).”Those who believe in capping CEO pay relative to the average worker would do so at a very low multiple. The typical American would limit CEO pay to no more than 6 times (17.6 times, based on average numbers) that of the average worker. These figures are significantly below current pay multiples, which are approximately 210 times based on recent compensation figures.”

“Americans and CEO Pay: 2016 Public Perception Survey on CEO Compensation.” Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2016, www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/americans-ceo-pay-2016-public-perception-survey-ceo-compensation. Accessed 10 Aug. 2023.