Introduction:

India’s economy is soaring, and its top CEOs are capitalizing on the opportunity of leading huge companies to success. In 2025, these business giants from industries like IT, finance, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing are earning high salaries, reflecting their vision and impact. Many have built incredible wealth through smart investments and company growth. This article dives into the top 10 highest-earning CEOs in India. We used the FY25 reports for their salaries and net worth. 

Below is the list with more details:

*The list follows alphabetical order

C Vijayakumar

• Age: 57
• CEO and Managing Director: HCL Technologies
• Total earnings: $10.8 million

C Vijayakumar is the CEO of one of India’s leading IT companies, HCLTech. He began his career as an engineer at HCL in 1994 and climbed the ranks to become CEO in 2016. His FY25 salary is ₹94.6 crore, one of the highest in the IT sector, driven by bonuses and stock awards. 

Vijay has led HCLTech to grow through acquisitions and a focus on AI, cloud computing, and digital services. He holds a degree from PSG College of Technology and lives in New Jersey, USA. C Vijayakumar’s leadership and hard work have made HCLTech a global tech powerhouse. He is beating bigger rivals in terms of both performance and pay.

Murali K Divi

• Age: 74
• Founder and Managing Director: Divi’s Laboratories
• Net Worth: $9.9 billion

Dr. Murali K Divi worked in the US pharmaceutical industry and founded Divi’s Laboratories in 1990. Divi’s Lab makes active pharmaceutical ingredients for global drug firms. The company grew rapidly during COVID for its antiviral supplies. In FY25, Murali earned ₹88.15 crore, a 38% rise compared to the previous financial year, fueled by company profits. 

Murali’s net worth is $9.9 billion, making him one of India’s richest CEO. He owns 51 percent of the company’s share, worth over ₹1.5 lakh crore. From failing exams in his school days to building a pharma empire, Murali’s story is inspiring. He focuses on the quality and innovation of new products.

Nithin Kamath

• Age: 45
• Residence: India
• Co-founder and CEO: Zerodha
• Net Worth: $4.5 billion

Nithin co-founded Zerodha in 2010 with his brother Nikhil to simplify stock trading. It slowly became the biggest discount brokerage firm. Nithin was previously a trader he knew the frustration of having high brokerage fees. He realized the gaps in the old brokerage system and established Zerodha to solve them. 

His net worth reflects Zerodha’s success as India’s largest discount brokerage with over 10 million users. Nithin’s net worth is $4.5 billion, driven by Zerodha’s $7 billion valuation. He also invests in startups through Rainmatter, his fund for fintech and health ideas. 

Pawan Munjal

Image source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawan_Munjal

• Age: 71
• CEO and Executive Chairman: Hero MotoCorp
• Net Worth: $6.1 billion (Forbes)

Pawan Munjal leads Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer. He took over his father’s business in 2015 and split from Honda in 2011. His FY25 salary is ₹109.41 crore, the highest in the auto industry. Pawan’s net worth comes from his family’s stake in Hero, which has sold over 100 million bikes. 

Pawan also promotes sports through Hero’s sponsorships, including hockey and cricket. He aims to manufacture more electric vehicles and expand his services globally.

Rajeev Jain

• Age: 55
• CEO and Executive Vice Chairman: Bajaj Finance
• Net Worth: Not publicly disclosed (estimated in billions of rupees)

Rajeev Jain has been the executive with Bajaj Finance since 2005. His efforts made Bajaj Finance India’s top consumer finance company, valued at ₹2 lakh crore. As Executive Vice Chairman, his FY25 salary is ₹102.10 crore, crossing the ₹100 crore mark for the second year. 

Rajeev’s net worth, though not public, is likely to be in the billions due to investments and shares. The firm focuses on loans, credit cards, and digital finance, driving India’s fintech boom. Rajeev stepped down as Managing Director this year to focus on strategy making and helping India to become a fintech leader. 

Ravi Kumar S

• Age: 53
• CEO of Cognizant
• CEO: Cognizant

Ravi Kumar S became CEO of Cognizant, a global IT service company, in 2023 after a 20-year career at Infosys. Originally, he was a nuclear scientist in India before he moved to tech. He also served as the president of Infosys before leading Cognizant. Ravi helped Cognizant expand more in AI, cloud, and digital services. 

Ravi’s net worth is estimated to be $20 million, built from his long career, stock options, and more. He’s known for building strong teams and solving client problems with innovative tech solutions. Ravi is continuously pushing Cognizant to use tech to solve real-world problems.

S N Subrahmanyan

• Age: 65
• Chairman and Managing Director: Larsen & Toubro (L&T)

S N Subrahmanyan leads Larsen & Toubro, India’s top engineering and construction firm. He started as an engineer at L&T and slowly rose to this position. He now oversees huge projects like bridges and metros. His FY25 salary increased by 50% due to stock options. SNS’s net worth is likely over ₹500 crore, given L&T’s ₹3 lakh crore valuation. Subrahmanyan pushes for tech-driven construction and tech. 

Salil Parekh

• Age: 61
• CEO and Managing Director: Infosys

Salil Parekh has been CEO of Infosys since 2018. Infosys is one of India’s biggest IT companies. He worked for 25 years at Capgemini before getting to lead Infosys’s growth. Salil has focused on digital transformation, cloud services, and artificial intelligence to grow Infosys. 

He helped the company navigate challenges like the pandemic. Some sources estimate his net worth to be around $45 million, built from his career and Infosys stocks. He holds degrees from IIT Bombay and Cornell University. Salil keeps a low profile but is often praised for steady leadership.

Sandeep Kalra

• Age: 53
• CEO and Executive Director: Persistent Systems

Sandeep Kalra, CEO of Persistent Systems, has taken the IT firm past $1 billion in revenue. Sandeep joined in 2019 and became the Chief Executive Officer in 2020. His FY25 salary is ₹148.09 crore, the highest among Indian CEOs, boosted by a 75% rise in stock value. 

Sandeep’s net worth is not known to the public, but it surely is in hundreds of crores with his significant pay and stocks. Sandeep is a graduate of IIM Calcutta. His emphasis on AI and cloud services is transforming Persistent into one of those fast-growing firms that’s now competing in the IT marketplace.

Vinay Prakash

• Age: 51
• CEO and Executive Director: Adani Enterprises Ltd

Vinay Prakash oversees mining, energy, and infrastructure projects at Adani Group. He is the CEO of Adani Natural Resources and an executive director at Adani Enterprises. He joined Adani in 2005 and led major projects across India and Australia to help expand the company’s global reach. 

His FY25 salary increased by 54%, driven by perks and bonuses. Vinay’s net worth isn’t publicly shared, but his high role in a giant firm like Adani suggests it’s in the hundreds of crores.  He concentrates on sustainable mining and energy, contributing to India’s infrastructure development and energy transition.

Conclusion:

India’s top CEOs, from IT giants like Persistent Systems to auto major Hero MotoCorp’s Pawan Munjal, are being paid handsome salaries as they lead companies that are setting new benchmarks across the country. Their total FY25 pay of more than ₹1,000 crore is a great testament to how vision, innovation, and leadership not just contribute to wealth but also impact.

These CEOs inspire millions with their success stories. Whether building global brands or transforming industries, they prove that hard work pays off. In the article, we talked about the top CEOs of India and their impact on the companies they lead.

FAQs:

What is the highest salary earned by a CEO in India in 2025?

Sandeep Kalra of Persistent Systems earns ₹148.09 crore in FY25, driven by stock awards.

Which industries do India’s top CEOs represent?

They lead companies in IT (e.g., Infosys, HCLTech), finance (Bajaj Finance), pharmaceuticals (Divi’s Labs), auto (Hero MotoCorp), and infrastructure (Adani, L&T).

What is the total pay of these CEOs in FY25?

Their combined salaries exceed ₹1,000 crore, fueled by bonuses and stock options.

What’s the difference between salary and net worth for CEOs?

Salary is yearly pay (bonuses, stocks included); net worth is total wealth from shares, investments, and assets.

Who has the highest net worth among these CEOs in 2025?

Murali K Divi of Divi’s Laboratories, with $9.9 billion from his 51% company stake.

Why are these CEO salaries so high?

High pay reflects company profits, stock price growth, and performance bonuses in booming sectors.

Are these salaries specific to FY25?

Yes, figures come from FY25 (April 2024–March 2025) company reports, covering salary, bonuses, and stocks.

Do all top CEOs hold large company shares?

Founders like Murali K Divi and Nithin Kamath own significant stakes; salaried CEOs like Salil Parekh hold smaller stock options.

How reliable are the net worth estimates?

They’re based on public data (stock holdings, filings) but may vary due to private assets and market fluctuations.