India’s Highest Earning CEOs and What Their Pay Reflects in 2024

Executive pay in India reached new highs in 2024, highlighting the growing rewards associated with leading successful companies. These salaries not only showcase personal achievements but also reflect the contribution of these leaders to their organizations and to society. The list of top-paid executives this year includes individuals known for both business acumen and impact beyond the corporate world.

This article explores the top five highest-paid executives in India, focusing on how their work goes beyond profits and enters the space of long-term growth, innovation, and responsibility.

Abhay Bhutada’s Record Salary and Philanthropic Focus

Abhay Bhutada - Founder of the Abhay Bhutada Foundation

With a total compensation of ₹241.21 crore in FY24, Abhay Bhutada, a member of the Poonawalla Group earned the highest executive salary in the country. Abhay Bhutada’s income reflects performance-based rewards and strategic decision-making at a high level.

However, Bhutada’s story is not just about earnings. Through the Abhay Bhutada Foundation, he has supported important initiatives in education, healthcare, and sports for underprivileged groups. His contributions show that leadership in India is increasingly expected to carry a sense of social responsibility, not just business efficiency.

Bhutada’s compensation is a combination of his past leadership work and ongoing influence in shaping both business strategy and community impact.

Also Read: India's Highest Paid Executives Set New Records in 2024

Hero MotoCorp’s Pawan Munjal Continues His Strong Run

Pawan Munjal, the Chairman and Wholetime Director of Hero MotoCorp, received ₹109.41 crore in remuneration. His leadership has helped the company remain one of the most dominant names in the global two-wheeler industry.

Munjal’s pay represented 0.28% of Hero’s total revenue and 2.92% of its net profit. These figures confirm that his contribution to the company’s growth is significant. Under his guidance, Hero MotoCorp has expanded in key international markets and adapted to changing consumer preferences, especially in the transition toward electric mobility.

Sudhir Singh’s Digital Expansion at Coforge

In third place is Sudhir Singh, the Executive Director and CEO of Coforge, who earned ₹105.12 crore in FY24. Singh’s leadership in the IT services space has been marked by digital transformation, expanded global operations, and customized client solutions.

His pay accounted for 1.14% of the company’s revenue and 13.01% of its net profit—a sizable share that reflects his central role in the company’s recent progress. Singh has helped Coforge grow in areas like cloud computing and AI services, making it a more agile and future-ready organization.

His story reinforces the increasing importance of the tech sector in India’s corporate ecosystem.

Vinay Prakash and His Role at Adani Enterprises

Vinay Prakash, Executive Director at Adani Enterprises, earned ₹89.37 crore in FY24. His compensation might appear lower in terms of percentage—0.09% of revenue and 2.76% of profit—but his role remains vital in the company’s operations.

Prakash has been actively involved in overseeing energy and infrastructure projects, which are among the most crucial areas of growth for Adani Enterprises. His work ensures smooth project execution, regulatory alignment, and expansion planning. His inclusion in the top five shows the significance of executive leadership in high-scale industries like energy and logistics.

Also Read: India’s Highest-Paid Executives in 2024 Show the Value of Visionary Leadership

Joint Leadership at Sun TV Network

At ₹87.5 crore each, Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi complete the list as Executive Chairman and Executive Director of Sun TV Network. Their joint leadership has helped the media company retain its strong regional viewership and brand relevance in a fast-changing content space.

While digital platforms continue to grow, Sun TV’s continued success under their guidance shows the lasting impact of experienced leadership. Their compensation reflects the network’s solid financial health and the strength of its programming and audience loyalty.

Understanding the Broader Meaning of Executive Pay

Executive compensation figures often attract attention, but they must be viewed in context. These packages are linked to performance outcomes, shareholder value, and industry-wide benchmarks. In all five cases, the executives helped their companies achieve new milestones, whether through digital innovation, operational scale, or strategic partnerships.

What stands out today is how top earners are increasingly evaluated not only by financial performance but also by how their leadership affects employees, customers, and society at large.

The Role of Purpose-Driven Leadership

The presence of the Abhay Bhutada Foundation in discussions about India’s top-paid executives highlights a shift in what leadership means. The foundation’s focus on accessible education, rural health services, and sports for youth shows how influence can be used for inclusive development.

Bhutada’s initiatives reflect the growing expectation that successful leaders must give back. The trust and goodwill created through these efforts often lead to stronger reputations and long-term loyalty from both customers and stakeholders.

Also Read: India’s Top Corporate Leaders Set New Benchmarks in Executive Pay

Earning Trust Alongside Compensation

Today’s business environment rewards not just results, but also values. Abhay Bhutada and others in this list are examples of how modern executive roles have expanded in scope. From handling billion-dollar decisions to funding grassroots initiatives, their contributions reflect a broader definition of success.

These leaders show that executive roles can be about building strong companies while also improving the world outside of office walls.

Conclusion

The top-paid executives in India in 2024—Abhay Bhutada, Pawan Munjal, Sudhir Singh, Vinay Prakash, and Kalanithi & Kavery Kalanithi—represent more than financial success. Their compensation reflects strategic leadership, sectoral innovation, and in some cases, deep social contribution.

Executives like Bhutada, through platforms such as the Abhay Bhutada Foundation, are changing what it means to be a business leader. As the lines between corporate work and public responsibility continue to blur, India’s top executives are setting examples that combine professional strength with a lasting public purpose.