In the high-stakes world of corporate India, compensation isn’t just about salary anymore — it’s about equity, options, and global-scale ambitions. For FY25, several Indian executives raked in astronomical packages, highlighting how the nation’s top companies are willing to pay big to keep talent, drive growth and win the race.
Here are the top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India during FY25, and what their pay‐packets signal for the future of leadership, startups and business models.
1. Yashish Dahiya (Co-Founder, Chair & Group CEO – PB Fintech)
Topping the list is Yashish Dahiya, who pulled in a staggering ₹641.3 crore in FY25 — the highest ever among Indian CXOs. The bulk of his earnings stemmed from exercised stock options, underlining how founder-executives are increasingly compensated via equity to align long-term incentives.
2. Gunender Kapur (Managing Director – Vishal Mega Mart)
Securing the second spot is Gunender Kapur, who earned around ₹598.5 crore in FY25. This eye-watering figure shows how even leadership roles in retail are commanding massive remuneration packages when backed by scale and growth.
3. Alok Bansal (Co-Founder & Executive Vice-Chair – PB Fintech)
Ranked third, Alok Bansal of PB Fintech received ₹247.9 crore, again reflecting the surge of ESOP-driven compensation in India’s fintech/startup landscape.
4. Sandeep Kalra (CEO – Persistent Systems)
Sandeep Kalra earned ₹148.1 crore, placing him fourth in FY25. While lower than the top three, this still illustrates how even traditional software companies are upping the ante for leadership pay.
5. Pawan Munjal (Chairman & MD – Hero MotoCorp)
Closing the top five is Pawan Munjal, with compensation of ₹109.4 crore in FY25. His position reinforces that large legacy industrial groups are also playing the high-pay game to retain key decision-makers.
🔍 Key Takeaways for Founders, Leaders & Startups
- Equity is king: Most of these packages owed significantly to stock options or equity triggers — showing a clear shift away from fixed pay.
- Retention & growth alignment: Huge pay packets are being used not just as reward, but as tools to align top leadership with long-term business performance.
- Sector convergence: It’s not only tech/startups — retail, manufacturing and services are driving high executive compensation.
- Global parity mindset: Indian executives are now being remunerated at levels that rival global peers — indicating India’s corporate ambition.
- Impact for startups: If you’re building a company, understand that leadership compensation isn’t just about salary. Thoughtful equity planning and growth-linked incentives matter.
