Jamesty
In a time of global economic turmoil, rising tensions between countries, and growing differences in wealth, the wages of world leaders are an interesting way to gauge national priorities, fiscal policies, and cultural attitudes toward public service. We at Nubia Magazine think that knowing how power works also implies knowing how it is rewarded. Some presidents get little incomes that show their commitment to equality, while others get big paychecks that show both the status and the heavy responsibilities that come with their jobs.
Nubia Magazine has put together a special list of the Top 10 Highest-Paid Presidents in the World for 2025. The list is based on official annual wages converted to U.S. dollars (USD). We got these numbers from verifiable official publications, international transparency reports, and the most recent economic analysis. It’s important to note that the values shown only include base wages. They don’t include big extra benefits like official housing, travel allowances, security details, and discretionary expenditures that can greatly raise overall pay.
This list from Nubia Magazine does more than show the money that people may make. It also shows the different paths that people take to get to the highest office, from rich business tycoons and grassroots activists to experienced politicians and brave reformers. As countries throughout the world deal with inflation, recessions, and rising social unrest, these payments continue to spark heated debates about fairness, openness, and whether a leader’s salary should be based on their performance or the state of the economy.
List Of Top 10 Highest Paid Presidents In The World 2025
1. Donald Trump
Donald J. Trump, the 47th President of the United States, is at the top. His second term began in January 2025 with promises of “America First” policies and an economic recovery. Trump’s official salary is still $400,000 a year, which hasn’t changed since 2001. This is because Article II of the U.S. Constitution says that Congress should decide the pay. In addition to this base pay, Trump gets $50,000 for expenses, $100,000 for travel, and $19,000 for entertainment. However, Trump, who says he is a billionaire and has a net worth of more than $6 billion from real estate and media ventures, has promised to give his salary to federal agencies every three months, just like he did during his first term. The U.S. is the world’s greatest economy, and the presidency requires a lot of worldwide power, therefore Trump’s pay reflects that. Critics say the pay is low for the job, especially compared to corporate CEOs, but it shows that the person is more interested in serving the public than making money. Trump’s administration has not suggested any adjustments to the amount, even though inflation is expected to drop to 2.5% by 2025. Instead, they have focused on tax cuts.
2. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey since 2003, will get about $80,261 a year in 2025, thanks to a 30% raise that was granted in the national budget. This is nearly 2.856 million Turkish lira a month, which is up from 183,000 lira. Turkey’s economy is still unstable, with hyperinflation reaching 85% in 2022. Erdoğan’s salary includes money for official tasks, but his net worth is estimated to be $500 million from real estate and family businesses, which is far more than his salary. This has sparked debates over wealth inequality in a country where the typical worker makes less than $10,000 a year. Supporters say that Erdoğan’s long time in office and tough foreign policy, which includes mediating talks between Ukraine and Russia and expanding NATO, make the hike fair. But critics say it is tone-deaf in a time of rising costs of living. As Turkey looks to join the EU and balance its alliances in the East, his pay shows how his administration is a mix of populism and practicality.
3. Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins is the President of Ireland and will stay until November 2025. He makes €375,000 ($406,277) a year, which is about seven times the national median of €47,967. This makes him the second-highest-paid head of state in Europe compared to ordinary salaries. Higgins was elected in 2011 and again in 2018. During the financial crisis, he chose to cut his income by 23.5%, bringing it down to €249,014 basic plus allowances. Now, however, full benefits apply. His job is mostly ceremonial, and he works on diplomacy, social justice, and poetry. Higgins is a published author and a supporter of worldwide equality. This pay, which comes from a flourishing economy powered by internet companies like Google, shows how well Ireland is doing after the Celtic Tiger. Higgins’s time in office focused on climate action and bringing people together. His successor, Catherine Connolly, will have to do the same things. Higgins’s remuneration in 2025, during EU budget talks, shows how smaller countries compensate symbolic leaders.
4. Gabriel Boric
Gabriel Boric, the 39-year-old President of Chile, is the youngest president in the world. He makes $196,000 a year, which has not changed since he took office in 2022. Boric promised to change pensions and reduce inequality when he was elected. His salary, which is low for the richest country in Latin America, includes lodging at La Moneda Palace and security. He has a net worth of about $1.5 million from his work as a lawyer before politics and his work as a student activist. His administration is under fire for the economy’s slowdowns, with GDP growth at 2.1%. Boric’s compensation is in line with Chile’s merit-based public service, where presidents get about the same as top executives. Changes like a 40-hour workweek and a mixed pension scheme have made him more popular, with 41% of people supporting him. But the elections are coming up in 2025. His pay shows that the elitism of the Pinochet era is over, and that social welfare is more important than luxury.
5. Bernardo Arévalo
Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo will make $178,680 a year starting in 2025. He took over from Alejandro Giammattei, who was forbidden from entering the U.S. because of corruption charges. Congress determined Arévalo’s salary, which helps him fight corruption by breaking up corrupt networks in the courts. Arévalo’s net worth is less than $1 million, which is not a lot for a former diplomat and son of a former president. This shows that he is open and honest in a country where corruption costs 2% of GDP every year. Arévalo puts indigenous rights and immigration reform ahead of other issues because Guatemala’s salary is limited by Central America’s budget. His win in the 2023 election, despite legal problems, gave people in the region optimism. In 2025, while the U.S. was talking about giving him money, his pay showed how thrifty he was as a leader.
6. Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron will make $223,940 in 2025 (or €179,000 gross per year), which is 30% less than François Hollande’s salary of €21,300 per month. This includes €3,000 in costs that are taxed at up to 45%. Macron, who was re-elected in 2022, made $5 million as a banker at Rothschild before he became president. His net worth is between $40 and $50 million, thanks in part to book royalties. Macron’s moderate changes on pensions and aid to Ukraine fit with France’s remuneration, which is lower than the EU average for leaders. With hasty elections stabilizing his coalition in 2025, it shows that he is being careful with money even though the economy is growing at 1.8%. Macron’s Élysée Palace privileges, which are worth €100,000, add to the package without raising the base.
7. Volodymyr Zelenskyy
As Russia’s war with Ukraine drags on, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a very low $12,000 a year (336,000 hryvnia), one of the lowest in the world. This is because of the war. His 2024 statement said that his family’s income came from bonds and rentals, which totaled $368,556. He also had a net worth of $20–30 million from his comedy production company, Kvartal 95. Zelenskyy, who used to be an actress, gave his first paychecks to the military. This wage, which is less than what an engineer in Kyiv makes, helps his “everyman” image, which is important for getting NATO backing of more than $100 billion. As peace talks break down in 2025, Zelenskyy’s frugality stands out against millionaire oligarchs, showing strength in an economy that has collapsed by 30% of GDP.
8. Andrzej Duda
Andrzej Duda, the outgoing President of Poland, would get $268,448 (€245,000) in 2025, according to EU-adjusted rates that include parliamentary allowances. Duda’s salary supports his conservative agenda on judicial changes and aid to Ukraine. He is a member of the Law and Justice Party. His net wealth is between $100,000 and $1 million from his legal career, which isn’t a lot for a NATO heavyweight. Poland’s compensation, which is higher than the EU median, pays for Duda’s lame-duck position in the 2025 elections. With a 3.2% increase in GDP, it shows that the country is doing well after communism, although some people are worried about his vetoes of abortion rights. The next president of Poland will have a strong package to help the country grow.
9. Joko Widodo
In 2025, Indonesia’s former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was expected to make $27,200 (Rp 30.2 million) a month until October 2024. This amount has not changed since 2009 and is one of the lowest in the G20. Widodo, who used to be a furniture exporter and is now the leader, concentrated on infrastructure. His $3.5 million net worth comes from his business. Prabowo Subianto, the next president, gets the same. This pay is good for Indonesia’s 270 million people and 5% growth, which is a focus on fighting corruption. Widodo’s legacy of toll-free roads lives on, but complaints about poor pay show how disconnected the wealthy are in a country where the average income is $4,500 a year.
10. Cyril Ramaphosa
According to the Remuneration Commission, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa would make $223,500 (R3.35 million) in 2025, which is 3% more than in 2024. Ramaphosa’s $450 million net wealth, which comes from mining stakes like Shanduka, is more than his income. He has given half of it to charity since 2018. He started a union and is now a billionaire. He is working to fix 32% unemployment. His income, which is 19 times the average R181,000, prompts issues about fairness during a time of 0.6% growth and loadshedding. The GNU alliance led by Ramaphosa puts changes first. His remuneration, which includes benefits from the Phala Phala farm, shows how tense things are after apartheid.
