Titans Of Pharma: J&J Back On Top For CEO Remuneration

Lilly And Novo Nordisk Highlight US/Europe Divergence

J&J topped the league table for CEO pay in 2023, a position it has held for three of the four past years. Meanwhile, the two companies that arguably generated the most buzz in 2023 neatly depict the stark contrast between the US and Europe when it comes to executive remuneration.  

Titans Of Pharma 2024
J&J's Joaquin Duato was the best-paid big pharma CEO

Johnson & Johnson’s Joaquin Duato became the best-paid CEO among the 12 biggest pharma companies in his second year on the job. With total compensation of $28.4m in 2023, more than double the $13.1m he received in 2022, he was back in the range of compensation enjoyed by his predecessor Alex Gorsky, who received $26.7m in 2021 and $29.6m in 2020. J&J has now been the big pharma company with the highest-remunerated CEO for four of the past three years.

Key Takeaways
  • Average CEO compensation among the top 12 pharma companies rose by 9.2% to $18.7m in 2023.

Duato, who took the helm at J&J in January 2022, oversaw the divestment of the company’s Kenvue Inc. consumer...

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