When we think of CEOs, we often imagine boardrooms, sharp decisions, and high-stakes leadership. But what does all of that translate to when it comes to their paychecks?
In India’s ever-evolving corporate landscape, top CEOs aren’t just leading companies; they’re also earning salaries that reflect the scale and complexity of their responsibilities.
From steering billion-dollar firms to founding startups that reshaped industries, these business leaders have done it all and their compensation shows it.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at some of the highest-paid CEOs in India, exploring not just their numbers, but also the journeys and roles that brought them there.
List of Highest Paid CEOs in India
Listed below (not by order) are some of the highest paid CEOs in India that we’ve handpicked for you-
Nithin Kamath- CEO & Co-Founder, Zerodha
Annual Salary (FY23): INR 72 Crore
Nithin Kamath, the man behind India’s largest stock brokerage firm, Zerodha, has carved his place in the financial world with grit and innovation. Born on 5th October 1979 in Shivamogga, Karnataka, Nithin’s journey began when he started trading at just 17, managing his father’s account. Despite financial hurdles including working at a call center due to lack of capital, his passion for markets never faded.
After graduating in Electronics and Telecommunications from Bangalore Institute of Technology, he took the entrepreneurial leap. In 2010, he co-founded Zerodha with his brother Nikhil Kamath.
Today, he not only leads Zerodha but also heads Rainmatter, a fintech incubator. With a net worth of USSD 4.5 billion (as of Jan 2025), Nithin’s FY23 earnings stood at a staggering INR 72 crore. Known for his conscious business approach, he’s also been featured in Forbes India’s Leadership Awards and was named among ET’s Top 10 Businessmen to Watch in 2016.
Ravi Kumar Singisetti- CEO, Cognizant
Annual Salary (FY23): INR 186 Crore
Ravi Kumar Singisetti made headlines as India’s highest-paid CEO in FY23, earning a staggering INR 186 crore. As the CEO of Cognizant, a global IT giant, Ravi brings decades of experience and a deep understanding of the tech world to the table.
Originally from Berhampur, Odisha, Ravi’s career journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. He began as a nuclear scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center before moving into the corporate world. After completing his engineering from Shivaji University and an MBA from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, he held leadership roles at top firms like Oracle, Sapient, PwC, and Cambridge Technology Partners.
Before joining Cognizant in January 2023, Ravi was President at Infosys, where he played a key role in global operations and chaired the board of Infosys BPM.
He currently serves on several high-profile boards, including TransUnion, Digimarc Corporation, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As of mid-2025, his estimated net worth stands at over USD 5 million.
Sandeep Kalra- CEO & Executive Director, Persistent Systems
Annual Salary (FY23): INR 61.7 Crore
Sandeep Kalra, the CEO and Executive Director of Persistent Systems, earned INR 61.7 crore in FY23, one of the highest among Indian tech leaders. With decades of experience in IT services, Kalra has played a key role in transforming Persistent Systems into one of Asia’s top performing tech companies.
Before taking the helm at Persistent, he led the 7,000+ member Digital Transformation Solutions unit, focusing on cutting-edge areas like AI, IoT, machine learning, analytics, and platform development.
Sandeep’s journey includes a significant 16-year stint at HCL Technologies, where he held leadership roles across outsourced product engineering, pharmaceutical verticals, and international expansion into Latin America and Canada. He also played a vital role in the growth of Symphony Teleca, which was later acquired by HARMAN.
Sandeep Kalra holds a management degree from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta.
S. N. Subrahmanyan- Chairman & CEO, Larsen & Toubro
Annual Salary (FY23): INR 61.27 Crore
N. Subrahmanyan, the driving force behind Larsen & Toubro (L&T), earned INR 61.27 crore in FY23. With a career spanning four decades at L&T, he took over as CEO in 2017 and now leads the company as Chairman and Managing Director.
Born in Chennai in 1960, Subrahmanyan holds a civil engineering degree from NIT Kurukshetra and an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He also completed an executive management program at the London Business School. He began his journey at L&T in 1984 as a Project Planning Engineer and steadily rose through the ranks.
Over the years, he has overseen major projects like metro systems in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. His leadership has earned him numerous accolades, including CNBC-Awaaz’s CEO of the Year and the Business Today-PwC award for Best CEO in Infrastructure & Engineering (2022).
C. P. Gurnani- Former CEO, Tech Mahindra
Annual Salary (FY23): INR 30 Crore
P. Gurnani, one of the most respected names in the Indian tech industry, earned INR 30 crore in FY23 during his final year as CEO of Tech Mahindra. Known for steering the company through major milestones including the high-profile merger with Satyam, Gurnani’s leadership has left a lasting mark on the IT sector.
Born in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, and raised in Rajasthan, he holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from NIT Rourkela. With over four decades in the industry, his career spans key roles at HCL, Hewlett Packard, and Perot Systems before his long stint at Tech Mahindra. He also served as Chairman of NASSCOM from 2016 to 2017.
In April 2024, Gurnani co-founded AIonOS, an AI startup aimed at driving intelligent digital transformation. He also chairs Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd. Beyond business, Gurnani is passionate about social causes, he and his wife Anita run Titliyan, an NGO dedicated to education and social impact.
Afterword
These leaders aren’t just earning big, they’re shaping industries, and driving India’s growth on the global stage. Their salaries reflect their years of experience, vision, and the ability to navigate change. As companies continue to grow and evolve, so will the expectations and rewards for those at the top!