Welcome to this post about Highest Paid Presidents in the World according to their Annual salary and net worth in 2024, via Afrokonnect. The president’s salary is a contentious issue since there is an expectation that he or she will be the highest paid government official.
While not universally true, the following table provides an idea of the annual salaries of the top 20 government officials around the world. Where does the greatest salary go to? This list does more than just name these government officials;
It breaks down the countries they represent and the roles they play. Therefore, without further ado, I present to you the twenty highest-paid heads of state in the world.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World In 2024
He is the president with the highest salary in the world. As far as salaries go, which world leader do you think takes the cake? Do any African heads of state appear on this list? Do some exploring to learn more.
20. Emmanuel Macron – France
Emmanuel Macron’s net worth was estimated to be over €120,000 ($143,000 USD). However, it’s important to note that this is a relatively small amount compared to the net worth of many other world leaders and high-profile individuals.
As for his salary structure, as the President of France, Macron’s salary is set by law and he earns approximately €15,140 ($17,971 USD) per month. In addition to his base salary, he also receives an expense allowance of €3,000 ($3,560 USD) per month to cover his official expenses as President.
French President Emmanuel Macron is among Europe’s highest-paid heads of state. His annual salary is over $154,000, as reported.
19. Mark Rutte – Netherlands
Mark Rutte’s net worth was not publicly available. However, it’s worth noting that in the Netherlands, public officials are generally not required to disclose their personal wealth, and Mark Rutte has not publicly disclosed his net worth.
As for his salary, as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte earns an annual salary of €187,000 (approximately $221,000 USD) before taxes.
This amount includes a base salary as well as a tax-free expense allowance. Additionally, he receives a pension contribution and other benefits.
It’s worth noting that Dutch government officials generally earn less than their counterparts in other countries, Mark Rutte’s salary is relatively modest compared to the salaries of some other world leaders.
Mark Rutte is not only one of the longest-serving but also one of the highest-paid government leaders in the Netherlands with his annual income recorded to be over $187,000.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World in 2024
18. Tsai Ing-wen – Taiwan
Tsai Ing-wen, a politician from Taiwan, with a yearly salary of around $171,000, in Taiwan, public officials are generally not required to disclose their personal wealth, and Tsai Ing-wen has not publicly disclosed her net worth.
As for her salary, as the President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen’s monthly salary is TWD 360,000 (approximately USD 12,892). This salary is set by law and is subject to taxes and other deductions.
In addition to her base salary, she also receives various benefits and allowances, such as a housing allowance, a transportation allowance, and an official entertainment allowance. It’s worth noting that the salary of the President of Taiwan is relatively modest compared to the salaries of some other world leaders.
17. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson – Iceland
After taxes, Iceland’s president takes home ISK 3,230,231 (about $26,500) per month. This minimum wage is mandated by law and is subject to withholding for various expenses.
The President is entitled to a number of allowances and perks in addition to his pay, including a housing allowance, transit allowance, and an official entertainment allowance.
A comparison of the wages of several international leaders reveals that the President of Iceland earns a comparatively average salary. Iceland’s Jóhannesson is among the world’s highest-paid heads of state, Around $318,000 is what he earns per year in compensation.
16. Yoon Suk Yeol – South Korea
On July 1, 2021, former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol became the Governor of South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. He has held positions as Director of the Ministry of Justice’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and Head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
In South Korea, Yoon is well-known for his high-profile probes into high-profile cases of corruption and abuse of authority. Yoon receives a yearly salary of over KRW 165,000,000 (about USD 192,000).
This minimum wage is mandated by law and is subject to withholding for various expenses. A housing allowance, transit allowance, and an official entertainment allowance are just a few of the perks he enjoys in addition to his regular income.
It is important to note that the pay of the Governor of Gyeonggi Province is comparatively low when compared to that of other international leaders. South Korea’s thirteenth president, Yoon Suk Yeol, took office in 2022 and has an annual salary of $192,898.
The South Korean cabinet, however, adopted a plan to freeze the annual wages of top government officials, including the president, in January 2023.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World
15. Sauli Niinistö – Finland
Sauli Niinisto’s monthly salary as President of Finland is €11,000 (about $13,000 USD) before taxes. This statutory pay is subject to taxes and other deductions.
He gets numerous perks and allowances in addition to his regular income, including a housing allowance, a transit allowance, and an official entertainment allowance.
Sauli Niinistö of Finland is among the highest paid politicians in all of Europe. He became president and since then has been compensated with around $212,000 annual salary.
14. Fumio Kishida – Japan
Fumio Kishida is a member of the Japanese government and has been Prime Minister of Japan since October 2021. On July 29th, 1957, he entered this world in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
In 1993, Kishida was first elected to the House of Representatives (the lower house of the Japanese Parliament) to represent Hiroshima’s first district.
He has served as the Japanese government’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Space Policy, Minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs, and Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council.
Kishida is well-respected for his diplomatic expertise because of his time spent at the helm of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2012-2017). He was instrumental in improving Japan’s ties with other nations, notably in Asia, during his tenure as foreign minister.
Kishida has promised to carry on Yoshihide Suga’s initiatives, notably those dealing with the COVID-19 epidemic and economic recovery. He has, however, placed special emphasis on climate change, digital transformation, and social welfare reform. In 2021, Fumio Kishida became Prime Minister of Japan and began earning a $220,000 annual salary.
Which African presidents have the highest salary?
13. Cyril Ramaphosa – South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa is a politician from South Africa and has been the President of South Africa since February 2018. He was born on November 17th, 1952 in the township of Soweto, which is located in South Africa.
Ramaphosa led the African National Congress (ANC) during the anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa. In 1994, he was elected to parliament after apartheid. Ramaphosa was Vice President of South Africa under Jacob Zuma.
He defeated Zuma’s successor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to become ANC president in 2017. Ramaphosa has prioritized combatting corruption as South Africa’s president and implemented a stimulus package to boost economy and decrease unemployment.
He emphasized fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has disproportionately afflicted South Africa. Ramaphosa has prioritized land reform, education, healthcare, and basic services. He has also contributed to regional peace and stability, notably in Zimbabwe and the DRC.
After Jacob Zuma’s resignation in February 2018, he took over as president and has been earning $227,000 a year since then.
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Highest Paid Presidents in the World
12. Sergio Mattarella – Italy
Sergio Mattarella is a member of the Italian political elite and has served as the country’s President since February 2015. On July 23, 1941, he entered the world in Palermo, Italy.
Mattarella has served in Italian politics for quite some time, and he has achieved great success there. A member of the Christian Democratic Party, he was first elected to Italy’s House of Deputies in 1983.
He has served as Italy’s Minister of Education, Minister of Defense, and Deputy Prime Minister, among other high-level posts. Before becoming Italy’s President in 2015, Mattarella worked as a judge on the country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, since 2011.
Mattarella, in his role as President of Italy, has been a uniting force in Italian politics, actively fostering unity and peace. Sergio Mattarella of Italy is the highest paid Italian politician. He was promoted to his current position in 2015 and now earns $260,000 per year.
11. Justin Trudeau – Canada
Canadian politician and Prime Minister since November 2015, Justin Trudeau is a member of the Liberal Party. Ottawa, Canada was the location of his birth on December 25th, 1971.
Trudeau was raised in a political family, since he is the son of Canada’s former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He started off as an educator and made his political debut in 2008, when the Liberal Party of Canada elected him to parliament for the first time.
After being chosen as Liberal Party leader in 2013, Trudeau led his party to an overwhelming victory in the 2015 federal election, resulting in his party becoming a majority government.
While his party did not secure a majority in Parliament, he was re-elected in the 2019 federal election. There is an additional $140,000 added to his annual income for his position as Prime Minister while his total annual compensation is around $270,000.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World
10. Karl Nehammer – Austria
Austria’s chancellor, Karl Nehammer, is one of the youngest leaders of state. His annual salary of $328,584 places him among the world’s highest-paid heads of state.
9. Xavier Bettel – Luxembourg
After becoming Prime Minister of Luxembourg in December 2013, Xavier Bettel has been receiving an annual salary of around $340,000. Formerly, he was the leader of Luxembourg City as its mayor.
8. Michael D. Higgins – Ireland
Michael D. Higgins is a politician from Ireland who has been serving as the President of Ireland since November 2011. Limerick, Ireland was the location of his birth on April 18th, 1941. Irish politician and public servant Higgins had a long and accomplished career.
As a Labour Party member, he was first elected to the Dáil Éireann in 1981. He has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht.
In Irish civil society, Higgins has been a leader in human rights and social justice. He founded the Irish Human Rights Commission, was President of the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages, and was a Council of State member.
He earns $345,000 a year, making him one of the top 10 highest-paid presidents in the world.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World
7. Rishi Sunak – United Kingdom
The incoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, is among the world’s highest-paid politicians.
His income originates from two sources: the Prime Minister’s salary and a separate parliamentary salary. An additional yearly stipend is due to him as well. Yearly, Rishi Sunak earns a total of $346,141.
6. Chris Hipkins – New Zealand
Chris Hipkins is a New Zealand politician who has been a member of the New Zealand Parliament since 2008. He was born on February 4, 1978, in the city of Taranaki, New Zealand.
Chris Hipkins is a member of the New Zealand Labour Party and has held a number of important positions in the New Zealand government.
He has served as the Minister of Education, Minister of State Services, and Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services, among other positions.
He has also been the Leader of the House since 2017. New Zealand’s current prime minister, Chris Hipkins, is the country’s 40th leader to hold that office. The yearly income he brings in is around $376,160.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World
5. Joseph Biden – United states of America (USA)
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., commonly known as Joe Biden, is an American politician and the 46th President of the United States, serving since January 20, 2021. He was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Biden began his political career in 1972, when he was elected to the United States Senate from Delaware. He served as a Senator for six terms, until he was elected Vice President of the United States under President Barack Obama in 2008.
He makes over $400,000 per year as the president of USA and has free reign of the White House and Air Force One.
4. Alain Berset – Switzerland
Alain Berset is a Swiss politician who has been a member of the Federal Council of Switzerland since 2012. The Federal Council is the highest executive authority in Switzerland, and its members are elected by the Swiss Federal Assembly for a term of four years.
Berset was born on April 9, 1972, in Fribourg, Switzerland. He studied political science and history at the University of Neuchâtel and the University of Lausanne, and he also obtained a degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.
Berset was elected to the Swiss National Council (the lower house of the Swiss Federal Assembly) in 2003, representing the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland.
The Swiss president, Alain Berset, takes home an annual salary of $482,958. This is more than any other member of the OECD receives in pay. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a governmental economic organization including 36 of the world’s highest-income countries.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World
3. Australia – Anthony Albanese
Since 2019, Australian politician Anthony Albanese has served as both the ALP’s leader and the opposition’s leader in Canberra. Since 1996, he has served as the representative for the inner-western Sydney Division of Grayndler in the Australian House of Representatives.
Albanese’s birthday is March 2nd, and he was born in Sydney, Australia. While attending the University of Sydney to pursue a degree in economics, he got active in student government.
After finishing college, he had a few different positions, such as research officer for the Transport Workers’ Union and ministerial advisor in the state government of New South Wales.
The recently elected Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, ranks among the world’s best paid heads of state. His annual income increased to $549,250 after he assumed office and received a 40% pay raise.
2. John Lee – Hong Kong
Hong Kong politician and public servant John Lee Ka-chiu has held the position of Secretary for Security in the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since 2018.
Lee graduated from the University of London with a law degree after being born in Hong Kong. After joining the Hong Kong Police Force in 1984, he advanced through the ranks to become the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Director of Crime and Security.
Lee retired from the Hong Kong Police Force in 2011, then spent time working in the private sector before rejoining the public sector in 2015 as the Undersecretary for Security in the HKSAR government.
In 2018, he replaced Lai Tung-kwok as the Secretary for Security. John Lee, the leader of Hong Kong, is the second-highest paid government figure in the world.
It was reported that Hong Kong’s new leader, Lee, had gotten a pay raise. His starting monthly salary was $58,000, with a $10,000 entertainment budget. His total annual compensation amounts to $816,000, or about $2,000 more than Carrie Lam’s.
Highest Paid President in the World in 2024 – Salary of Government Employees
1. Lee Hsien Loong – Singapore
Lee Hsien Loong, a politician from Singapore, has held the position of Prime Minister of Singapore. The People’s Action Party (PAP) has ruled Singapore continuously since the nation gained independence in 1965, and he serves as the party’s Secretary-General.
He is the oldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore and a driving force behind the city-meteoric state’s rise to economic prominence.
The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, receives the highest salary of any world leader. Throughout the year, he earns $2,200,000. Which is $1.2 billion more than President Joe Biden makes each year and a multiple of 12 times what Russian President Vladimir Putin receives.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World – Salary of Government Officials
Summary
Several very high-ranking government officials have suggested that fat pay checks will make it less likely that any of them will engage in corrupt behavior. The numbers are also calculated with the intention of luring the most intelligent candidates for government service.
Some have hypothesized that the low level of corruption in the country is linked to the high standard of living.
Seeing this ranking of the world’s highest-paid government officials will give you an idea of the lengths to which different nations would go in order to ensure their leaders are properly compensated. While some leaders have been in office for decades, others have just taken office. Some employees are at risk of having their pay cut, while others have recently seen raises.
Highest Paid Presidents in the World – Government Officials
Conclusion
In conclusion, the salaries of presidents vary widely across the world, with some countries offering very high salaries and others offering more modest compensation. The highest presidential salaries tend to be found in countries with strong economies and high levels of government spending, such as the United States, Singapore, and Switzerland.
However, it’s worth noting that presidential salaries are just one aspect of the overall compensation package for these positions, which may include various perks and benefits. Ultimately, the salary paid to a president is just one factor among many that influence their decision to seek and maintain this high-profile position.
