Archive · 12 Jan 2026
Walmart CEO's Staggering Hourly Earnings Revealed
Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart, started working at the company in 1984 for $6.50 an hour.
Today, he earns about $3,127 per hour, which is 481 times more than his starting wage.
This means he makes around $52 every minute.
In less than 20 hours, he earns more than the average American worker makes in a whole year.
He could afford the median US home price of $439,000 in just under six working days.
This shows a big difference between what top executives earn and what regular workers make.
While McMillon's compensation is high, other CEOs like Elon Musk and Tim Cook also have very high earnings.
Doug McMillon began at Walmart in 1984 earning $6.50 per hour.
His current hourly compensation is approximately $3,127.
McMillon's earnings are 481 times his starting wage.
He makes around $52 per minute and can afford the median US home in under 6 days.
He surpasses the average US annual income in under 20 hours.
- Who
- Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart
- What
- Comparison of his current earnings to his starting wage and average worker's income
- When
- Starting in 1984, current data from 2025 first quarter
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To highlight the disparity in earnings between the CEO and average workers
Executive Compensation Advocates
Income Inequality Critics
CEO Pay Justification
Executive Compensation Advocates
High executive compensation reflects the significant responsibilities and performance of top leaders, driving company success and shareholder value.
Income Inequality Critics
Excessive CEO pay exacerbates income inequality and highlights the need for better wage distribution and worker compensation.
- CEO Name
- Doug McMillon
- Starting Year at Walmart
- 1984
- Starting Hourly Wage
- $6.50
- Current Hourly Compensation
- $3,127
- Hourly Earnings Ratio
- 481 times starting wage
- Earnings per Minute
- $52
- Time to Surpass Average US Annual Income
- Under 20 hours
- Total Annual Compensation
- $27.5 million
- Median US Home Price
- $439,000
- Time to Afford Median Home
- Under 6 days
