24 retail CEOs made as much in a day as their typical employee earned in a year — and a big one didn't

• Retail CEOs have a big, complex job — one they are paid handsomely for.
• Publicly traded companies disclose executive compensation details in annual proxy statements.
• Here’s what the CEOs of 25 top retail chains made each day last year and how it compares to worker pay.

Here’s what the CEOs of 25 large retail and restaurant companies made per day last year, in ascending order.

Todd Vasos of Dollar General: $22,365 per day

CEO annual compensation: $8,163,197

Median worker annual compensation: $18,876

Shane O’Kelly of AutoZone: $24,992 per day

CEO annual compensation: $9,121,929

Median worker annual compensation: $25,492

Gerald Morgan of Texas Roadhouse: $29,650 per day

CEO annual compensation: $10,822,133

Median worker annual compensation: $20,524

Jack Sinclair of Sprouts Farmers Market: $31,554 per day

CEO annual compensation: $11,517,223

Median worker annual compensation: $32,554

William Stengel of Genuine Parts Company: $35,242 per day

CEO annual compensation: $12,863,479

Median worker annual compensation: $38,901

Ron Vachris of Costco: $38,171 per day

CEO annual compensation: $13,932,597

Median worker annual compensation: $49,186

Ronald Sargent of Kroger: $39,452 per day

CEO annual compensation: $14,400,108

Median worker annual compensation: $34,552

Michael Creedon of Dollar Tree: $40,480 per day

CEO annual compensation: $14,775,215

Median worker annual compensation: $16,214

Lauren Hobart of Dick’s Sporting Goods: $41,380 per day

CEO annual compensation: $15,103,545

Median worker annual compensation: $11,259

Joshua Kobza of Restaurant Brands Inc.: $41,534 per day

CEO annual compensation: $15,159,780

Median worker annual compensation: $11,075

Kecia Steelman of Ulta Beauty: $42,202 per day

CEO annual compensation: $15,403,663

Median worker annual compensation: $11,883

Scott Boatwright of Chipotle: $42,356 per day

CEO annual compensation: $15,460,000

Median worker annual compensation: $17,446

Ted Decker of Home Depot: $44,359 per day

CEO annual compensation: $16,191,127

Median worker annual compensation: $37,881

Bob Eddy of BJ’s Wholesale Club: $45,693 per day

CEO annual compensation: $16,678,036

Median worker annual compensation: $26,797

Corie Barry of Best Buy: $47,524 per day

CEO annual compensation: $17,346,126

Median worker annual compensation: $32,018

James Conroy of Ross Stores: $47,690 per day

CEO annual compensation: $17,406,705

Median worker annual compensation: $10,059

Chris Turner and David Gibbs of Yum Brands: $49,054* per day

CEO annual compensation: $17,904,655*

Median worker annual compensation: $15,346

*Chris Turner took over as CEO from David Gibbs in October 2025, and the company presented the combined amount that each individual received for the portion of the year served in the role.

Chris Kempczinski of McDonald’s: $56,369 per day

CEO annual compensation: $20,574,525

Median worker annual compensation: $19,020

Marvin Ellison of Lowe’s: $59,128 per day

CEO annual compensation: $21,581,889

Median worker annual compensation: $37,371

Brian Cornell of Target: $59,808

CEO annual compensation: $21,830,088

Median worker annual compensation: $27,506

Ernie Herrman of TJX Companies: $72,886 per day

CEO annual compensation: $26,603,537

Median worker annual compensation: $14,994

Doug McMillon of Walmart: $80,112 per day

CEO annual compensation: $29,240,930

Median worker annual compensation: $30,520

Brian Niccol of Starbucks: $84,912 per day

CEO annual compensation: $30,992,773

Median worker annual compensation: $17,279

Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply Co: $88,431 per day

CEO annual compensation: $32,277,194

Median worker annual compensation: $24,376

Laura Alber of Williams-Sonoma: $91,226

CEO annual compensation: $33,297,422

Median worker annual compensation: $24,943

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