Modern CEOs make staggering amounts of money. The head honchos at some of the world’s biggest tech and entertainment companies rake in compensation packages worth tens—or even hundreds—of millions of dollars annually.
The CEOs of America’s biggest automakers were no exception in 2025. Even with mixed financial results across the industry, CEOs at companies like Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Stellantis, and Tesla earned hundreds of millions of dollars last year, many of them higher than the year before.
Elon Musk led the pack by a wide margin, thanks largely to a controversial stock-based compensation package approved by shareholders late last year. RJ Scaringe followed in a distant—though still hugely impressive—second, while Mary Barra and Jim Farley saw more modest increases.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk: $8.8 Billion* (est.)
Photo by: Tesla
Musk’s earnings come with a big asterisk. Rather than a traditional salary, his earnings are tied to long-term stock-based incentive plans. Estimates from NPR suggest that, when spread across 10 years, the value of that massive compensation package approved by company shareholders in November comes out to roughly $8.8 billion per year. It could be more or less, depending on how Tesla’s stock performs.
Even by modern CEO standards, that figure is ridiculously high. It follows a tough year for the Tesla brand, with global sales declining by about 8.6 percent and profits reportedly dropping significantly. Still, Musk remains the world’s richest person, with an estimated net worth of over $800 billion.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe: $402.6 Million
Photo by: Rivian
Second only to Musk of America’s top-earning auto CEOs is Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, whose total compensation topped $402.6 million in 2025. Even though his base salary was a scant $1.1 million, the bulk of his earnings came from stocks. Scaringe earned over $373 million in options and $26.6 in stock awards, alongside a hefty $1 million bonus.
Even with that sizable compensation package, Rivian didn’t exactly have a stellar year. The company saw sales decline by roughly 18 percent year-over-year, with the company delivering just over 42,000 vehicles. The arrival of the R2 later this year could help Rivian turn things around.
GM CEO Mary Barra: $29.9 Million
Photo by: General Motors
General Motors CEO Mary Barra earned $29.9 million in 2025—a modest 1.3 percent increase from the previous year. Her total compensation included a $2.1 million base salary, $21.6 million in stock awards, and roughly $5 million in incentive-based pay. So far in her 12 years as CEO, Barra has earned more than $300 million.
Company stakeholders, though, might argue that her earnings were well deserved. Even amidst the automaker’s recent EV struggles and major losses associated with them, GM saw its sales increase by 6 percent in 2025, with revenue reaching approximately $185.0 billion.
Ford CEO Jim Farley: $27.5 Million
Photo by: Ford
Ford CEO Jim Farley earned $27.5 million in 2025—an 11 percent increase compared to last year and a career high. His total compensation included a $1.7 million base salary, $18.8 million in stock awards, $5.7 million in incentive pay, and $1.2 million in other benefits.
Like GM, Ford delivered a relatively strong performance last year. Sales climbed by 6 percent to more than 2.2 million vehicles, with revenue reaching $187.3 billion.
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa: $6.3 Million
Photo by: Stellantis
Antonio Filosa took over as the head of Stellantis in June of 2025, and his salary reflects that. The new boss “only” earned $6.3 million last year, which covers six months of compensation. Outgoing CEO Carlos Tavares, by comparison, made $14 million on his way out the door. Tavares also took home over $42.0 million in 2023, his most profitable year.