Australia's Highest-Paid CEO in 2025: Chris Hulls Tops the List with Nearly AU$48 Million
Introduction
A new report on executive remuneration has revealed that Chris Hulls, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Life360, was the highest-paid executive of an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed company in the 2025 financial year.
Hulls received AU$47.7 million in realized pay, making him Australia's highest-paid CEO/executive and earning nearly 500 times the average full-time Australian wage. The figures come from research by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), which analyzes executive remuneration across major Australian-listed companies.
Who Is Chris Hulls?
Chris Hulls is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Life360, a family safety and location-sharing technology company.
Although Life360 is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Hulls is based in the United States. After serving as CEO for nearly two decades, he transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman while continuing to play a major leadership role in the company.
How Much Did He Earn?
According to the ACSI report:
Realized Pay: AU$47.7 million
Approximate Multiple of Average Full-Time Wage: Nearly 500×
Primary Reason: A large portion of the payout came from share options and equity incentives that vested during the financial year, rather than from salary alone.
Top Highest-Paid Executives of Australian-Listed Companies
The report identified several executives with exceptionally high realized pay in FY2025:
| Rank | Executive | Company | Realized Pay (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Hulls | Life360 | AU$47.7 million |
| 2 | Mick Farrell | ResMed | AU$35.2 million |
| 3 | Robert Thomson | News Corp | AU$33.6 million |
| 4 | Vikesh Ramsunder | Sigma Healthcare | AU$32.6 million |
| 5 | Shemara Wikramanayake | Macquarie Group | AU$30.4 million |
These figures represent realized pay, which includes salary, bonuses, and the value of vested long-term equity incentives.
What Is "Realized Pay"?
Realized pay is different from a CEO's annual salary.
It typically includes:
Fixed salary
Cash bonuses
Performance incentives
Shares that vested during the year
Stock options that were exercised
As a result, realized pay can vary significantly from year to year depending on when long-term equity awards become available.
Average CEO Pay in Australia
The ACSI report found that:
The average realized pay for an ASX100 CEO was about AU$6.0 million.
The median realized pay was approximately AU$4.8 million.
The average ASX100 CEO earned around 55 times the average full-time Australian worker.
U.S.-Based Executives Dominate the Rankings
One notable finding was that many of the highest-paid leaders of Australian-listed companies are based in the United States.
For the first time, five of the top ten highest-paid executives of ASX-listed companies were U.S.-based, reflecting the growing number of Australian-listed businesses with significant international operations.
Debate Over Executive Pay
The report has renewed discussion about executive remuneration in Australia.
Supporters argue that high compensation reflects exceptional company performance and the long-term value created for shareholders, particularly when payouts come from equity that has appreciated over time.
Critics, however, question whether executive pay has become too disconnected from average worker earnings and have called for stronger oversight of bonuses and incentive structures.
Quick Facts
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Highest-Paid Executive | Chris Hulls |
| Company | Life360 |
| FY2025 Realized Pay | AU$47.7 million |
| Role | Executive Chairman (former CEO) |
| Based In | United States |
| Average ASX100 CEO Realized Pay | AU$6.0 million |
| Median ASX100 CEO Realized Pay | AU$4.8 million |
| Pay Compared to Average Worker | About 500× |
Conclusion
Chris Hulls topped the list of Australia's highest-paid executives in the 2025 financial year, receiving AU$47.7 million in realized compensation. Much of this amount came from vested stock options and long-term equity incentives rather than base salary alone. The latest ACSI report also highlights the increasing presence of U.S.-based leaders among Australia's highest-paid executives and has reignited debate over executive remuneration and corporate governance.