Media and Entertainment CEO Salaries Rose 117% in 2025, According to New Report
CEO Pay in S&P 500 Jumps Nearly 11% in 2025, Led by Media and Entertainment Sector
CEO compensation among S&P 500 companies saw a significant increase of nearly 11% in 2025, with the media and entertainment sector witnessing a staggering 117% surge, according to a recent analysis by the proxy advisory firm ISS-Corporate.
The report examined executive compensation packages for 318 S&P 500 companies, specifically those holding annual shareholder meetings on or after January 1, 2026. Companies were included in the analysis only if their current CEOs were also in the same role during the previous filing year. The median CEO pay across these companies reached $17.7 million, a figure notably surpassed by many leaders in the media and entertainment sector.
Following media and entertainment, the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail sector ranked second with a median compensation increase of 29.6%.
Publicly traded companies submit proxies to the SEC that detail executive pay ahead of annual meetings. While shareholders can vote on these compensation packages, the votes are primarily non-binding. Recent public sentiment against exorbitant CEO pay was highlighted in the case of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who faced backlash for a substantial payout linked to the company’s merger with Paramount.
Zaslav, historically among the highest-paid CEOs in the U.S., could earn up to $886 million for overseeing the merger, alongside his regular 2025 salary. This trend extends beyond individual cases, as the media and entertainment industry has been granting substantial compensation packages to various executives.
For instance, Ari Emanuel, who recently brought Endeavor Group Holdings public in 2022 and then private in 2025, received $67.4 million in 2025 for leading TKO Group Holdings, up from $18.1 million the previous year, primarily due to a stock grant. Comcast Co-CEO Mike Cavanagh’s compensation also saw a sharp increase to $71.8 million from $28 million.
Overall, the 10.6% rise in median CEO pay for S&P 500 firms reflects an increase from a 7.5% rise the year before. Notably, over 74% of S&P 500 CEOs enjoyed pay increases, while 26% experienced reductions. Compensation rose by at least $10 million for 27 CEOs, and 21 executives saw their pay more than double in 2025.
Proponents of the high pay argue it correlates with an upswing in broader market performance, as stock and option awards significantly influenced compensation levels. However, the media and entertainment sector has faced a challenging environment, indicated by a median negative total shareholder return of 28.6% during the same period that CEO pay soared.
The median base salary for S&P 500 CEOs reached $1.4 million, reflecting a 3.2% increase, while median stock and option awards rose to $11 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
“While most companies delivered positive shareholder returns in 2025, the magnitude of CEO pay increases highlights the degree to which stock and option awards continue to drive compensation decisions,” stated ISS-Corporate Managing Director Roy Saliba. “In a more uncertain macro environment marked by tariff risk, geopolitical tensions, and softer growth outlooks, investors are likely to scrutinize whether elevated pay outcomes remain well-aligned with long-term performance.”
