US bank CEOs earn millions more than European rivals amid profit boom
Executive pay at the biggest US investment banks, such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Barclays, has surged far ahead of their European rivals in recent years. Between 2021 and 2025, top bosses at these US banks saw their total compensation rise by 25–35%, while growth in Europe remained sluggish at just 5–15%. The gap reflects stronger trading profits and dealmaking in the US, alongside tighter regulations and weaker earnings across the Atlantic.
The six largest US banks rewarded their leaders handsomely, with each chief earning at least $40 million in a single year. Combined, their total pay reached $250 million.
In Europe, the picture looked different. Executives at HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, UBS, and Credit Suisse took home between €7 million and €17 million. Stricter pay caps and lower profitability kept increases modest, capping growth at a fraction of the US bank rate.
The disparity highlights how American banks, boosted by booming markets and fewer restrictions, could afford far larger rewards. European lenders, meanwhile, faced both regulatory limits and weaker financial performance during the same period.
The figures reveal a widening divide in how top bankers are paid on either side of the Atlantic. US bank executives now earn multiples of their European counterparts, driven by higher revenues and fewer constraints. For now, the trend shows little sign of slowing.
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