Nikesh Arora, CEO and Chairman of Palo Alto Networks has made headlines as the only Indian-origin executive to be named among the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in the United States. This recognition comes from a report released by C-Suite Comp, a data analytics firm specializing in executive compensation.
According to C-Suite Comp, Arora is ranked 10th among the highest-earning CEOs in the US. He appeared on two separate lists released by the firm. On the list of ‘Highest Earning CEOs by Total Compensation Granted in 2023,” he secured the 4th position with earnings of $151.4 million. Additionally, he was ranked 10th on the list of “Highest Earning CEOs by Compensation Actually Paid in 2023,” with a total of $266.4 million.
Interestingly, other prominent Indian-origin executives like Sundar Pichai of Google and Satya Nadella of Microsoft did not make it to the lists.
The report also detailed the top 10 highest-paid CEOs in the US by actual compensation in 2023. Leading the list is Tesla’s Elon Musk, who earned a staggering $1.4 billion. The list includes:
- Elon Musk (Tesla) – $1.4 billion
- Alexander Karp (Palantir Technologies) – $1.1 billion
- Hock Tan (Broadcom) – $767.7 million
- Brian Armstrong (Coinbase Global) – $680.9 million
- Safra Catz (Oracle) – $304.1 million
- Brian Chesky (Airbnb) – $303.5 million
- Jon Winkelried (TPG) – $295.1 million
- Jeff Green (Trade Desk) – $291.7 million
- Adam Foroughi (Applovin) – $271.3 million
- Nikesh Arora (Palo Alto Networks) – $266.4 million
Nikesh Arora has had an impressive career, with significant roles at Google and SoftBank Group before joining Palo Alto Networks in 2018. His educational background is equally remarkable. Arora holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology at Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU), an MBA from Northeastern University, and an MSc in Finance from Boston College.
Born to an Indian Air Force officer, Arora completed his schooling at Air Force Public School in Delhi. His career trajectory and educational qualifications reflect a blend of technical expertise and business acumen, contributing to his success as a top executive in Silicon Valley.
Nikesh Arora’s inclusion in the list of highest-paid CEOs underscores his significant impact in the tech industry of Silicon Valley.
