Story perspectives

Hollywood CEOs Earn $746M, Prompt Overpaid Tax Proposal

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 18 Hollywood executives earned $746 million in 2025, a 51% increase from 2024.
Median CEO pay at 318 S&P 500 media firms rose 117.4% in 2025, while return fell 28.6%.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav received $165 million (1,378-to-1 ratio), while AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron’s ratio was 1,174-to-1.
Discovery shareholders rejected Zaslav’s package, prompting Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy to propose an “Overpaid CEO Tax” on earning 50 times median worker, estimating $500 million.

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Story summary

The 18 Hollywood executives earned $746 million in 2025, a 51% increase from 2024.
Median CEO pay at 318 S&P 500 media firms rose 117.4% in 2025, while return fell 28.6%.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav received $165 million (1,378-to-1 ratio), while AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron’s ratio was 1,174-to-1.
Discovery shareholders rejected Zaslav’s package, prompting Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy to propose an “Overpaid CEO Tax” on earning 50 times median worker, estimating $500 million.