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India's highest paid CEOs

Last updated on: October 5, 2009 22:19 IST

Image: Mukesh Ambani, chairman, Reliance Industries
Photographs: Arko Datta/Reuters
Recession or not, the number of chief executives earning more than Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) a year is rising, with hundreds of new names joining India's millionaire club.

About 640 directors of listed companies took home with Rs 1 crore as total remuneration for the year-ended March 2009, compared to 570 in the previous year, says an Economic Times report.

Meanwhile, the government has advised India Inc to refrain from doling out "vulgar" salaries to CEOs.

"I think when we are working on this (austerity), we can hardly say that we (will) shut our eyes on what salary the CEOs are going to take," Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told PTI, when asked how the government intends to control salaries of CEOs which at times appear vulgar.

Pointing out that salaries of CEOs should be decided by shareholders, he said, "I don't think anyone in India today, in politics or outside politics, has reached the level of liberalism where vulgarity is also a fundamental right."

The issue regarding remuneration of company CEOs will be debated by the parliamentary standing committee which is scrutinising the provisions of the new Companies Bill tabled in the Lok Sabha in August, he said.

In reposne to this, India Inc has warned the government that any regulation of CEOs' pay may lead to flight of talent and capital from the country and said salaries are best decided by the industry.

1. Mukesh  Ambani

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries is the highest paid CEO.

In FY08, his compensation stood at Rs 44.02 crore (Rs 440.2 million). The salary figure of FY09 is yet to be published.

Take a look at the other top salary earners in India in FY09. . .

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Kalanidhi Maran with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

2. Kalanidhi Maran & Kavery Kalanidhi

Sun TV chairman and managing director Kalanidhi Maran and joint managing director Kavery Kalanidhi, whose annual remuneration stood at Rs 37.08 crore (Rs 370.8 million) take the second position among highest salary earners.

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Anil Ambani, chairman, ADAG
3. Anil Ambani

Anil Ambani, chairman, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group is third in the list of highest salary earners. His salary per annum is Rs 32.02 crore (Rs 320.2 million).

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: PRR Rajha, MD, Madras Cements.
4. PRR Rajha

PRR Rajha, chairman and managing director, Madras Cements Ltd gets the fourth highest salary in India. His total remuneration is Rs 28.71 crore (Rs 287.1 million).

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Navin Jindal with his mother Savitri Jindal and wife Shallu Jindal.
Photographs: Naveen Jindal website.
5. Naveen Jindal

Naveen Jindal, executive vice chairman and managing director Jindal Steel & Power Limited gets the fifth highest salary in India. His total salary is Rs 28.27 crore (Rs 282.7 million).

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Malvinder Singh, former CEO of Ranbaxy.
6. Malvinder Singh

Malvinder Singh, former CEO of Ranbaxy Laboratories, is the sixth highest salary earner in India. His remuneration is Rs 23.70 crore (Rs 237 million).

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Sunil Mittal, chairman and managing director, Bharti Airtel.
Photographs: Reuters
7. Sunil Bharti Mittal

Sunil Mittal, chairman and managing director, Bharti Airtel, ranks seventh among highest salary earners. His salary is Rs 22.89 crore (Rs 228.9 million).

8. Vivek Jain

Vivek Jain, managing director, Gujarat Flurochem, comes next in the list of highest salary earners. His salary stands at Rs 20.73 crore (Rs 207.3 million).

India's highest paid CEOs

Image: Brijmohan Lall (L), chairman, Hero Honda and Pawan Kant Munjal, managing director.
Photographs: Kamal Kishore/Reuters
9. Brijmohan Munjal

Brijmohan Munjal, chairman, Hero Honda, is the 9th highest salary earner: His total salary is Rs 19.79 crore (Rs 197.9 million).

10. Pawan Munjal

Pawan Munjal, managing director, Hero Honda is the tenth top salary earner in India with a remuneration of Rs 19.68 crore (Rs 196.8 million).