CEO Pay at Low-Wage S&P 500 Firms Hits 614× Median Worker Earnings

An August 27, 2026 Institute for Policy Studies study finds CEOs at the 100 lowest-paying S&P 500 firms earned 614 times their median worker in 2025 — $17.5 million versus $36,571. CEO pay grew 41.4% from 2019 to 2025, double worker pay growth, which itself trailed 25.9% inflation.