Overview

• A University of Melbourne analysis using Bloomberg’s CEO pay index estimates average ASX chief executives earn more than 100 times average full‑time wages, a ratio higher than Sweden, France and Japan but below the UK and US.
• Australians typically guess the pay gap is about seven to one, highlighting a widespread misperception of executive compensation.
• Survey respondents said a ratio near three to one would be acceptable, implying pay cuts in the tens of millions for some executives.
• Providing accurate information about the gap increased support for higher taxes on very high incomes and greater redistribution, including among some far‑right voters.
• Separate ACSI figures name Victor Herrero at $39.6 million and Shemara Wikramanayake at $29.8 million as the top individual earners in the latest year.