Roz Brewer (Walgreens CEO) was the highest-paid woman chief executive in 2021. according to a new Equilar study. Brewer was awarded $28.3 million in compensation – $20.2 million in the form of stock awards.

Equilar examined the top 100 companies in terms of revenue and analyzed 2021 proxy statements filed by these companies as of March 31, 2019. Although some companies may not yet have submitted proxy statements, these new numbers give us an indication of how the situation is shaping up for women at top. 

This group had nine female CEOs, an increase of six from the year before. However, there was zero female CEO among the 10 highest-paid overall. 

The top paid CEO last year was Intel’s Patrick Gelsinger, who was awarded $177.9 million — nearly $170 million of that in stock and option awards. Apple CEO Tim Cook ranked number two with total compensation of $98.7 million — $82.3 million of that in stock awards. 

These were followed by Broadcom CEO Hock Tang ($60.7million), Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (49.9 million), Charter Communications CEO Tom Rutledge (41.8 million), and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon (39.5 million).  

Walgreens CEO BrewerThe 14th most highly paid chief executive.

Below is how the other women in the list did, taking into account stock and option awards and salary for the complete pay package.

Sarah Anderson is a senior compensation expert for the progressive think-tank. She said, “It’s discouraging to watch how underrepresented men are at the top. And how overrepresented they remain at the bottom. Institute for Policy Studies.

In the big picture, new data shows CEO compensation rebounded after pandemic drops. Leaders who persevered and guided businesses through the worst of times, including rising unrest among workers, were rewarded by companies. Stock-based stock compensation was further enhanced by a booming stock market. 

Apple CEO Cook’s pay increased 569% between 2020 and 2021The data prove it. Gelsinger, the Intel CEO took over in 2021. There is therefore no comparison year to year. A 30.8% rise in compensation was seen for chief executives, with $20 million being the median total. 

New data shows that the pay gap between CEOs and employees is widening. The CEO Pay Ratio – the ratio of CEO to median worker compensation – increased by 7% over the prior year. 

Anderson said that the executives let loose in 2021. They were focused on making sure their employees are happy, not on worrying too much about worker issues. Anderson stated that it is not good for the company’s bottom line, both in the long and short-term.

For every $1 that the average worker earned, the CEO made $254 in 2021.

In 2021, the median worker’s pay rose 4.3% to $71,869 from $68,883 (2020) which failed to keep up with rapidly rising inflation.

“We’re seeing that the skyrocketing corporate profits – the benefits of that – have been funneled up to the top of the corporate ladder and workers, many of whom are on the frontlines of the crisis, have not been reaping the rewards,” said Anderson.

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