Who is the highest-paid individual in the world? It is not someone from India, nor is it the US President… rather, we are talking about a Prime Minister whose salary is set to skyrocket. The salary will increase by 64%, bringing the new annual pay to approximately ₹27 crore—translating to ₹2.25 crore per month. Remarkably, this figure is nearly seven times higher than the salary of US President Donald Trump. So, who is this highest-paid Prime Minister in the world? Why is the government paying such a massive salary? Let us find out…
He is Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong. According to a Reuters report, Wong’s salary will see an increase of approximately 64 percent starting October 15. As a result, his annual salary will rise from 2.2 million Singapore dollars to approximately 3.6 million Singapore dollars. In Indian currency, this amount is estimated to be around ₹26.9 crore annually. In contrast, the US President’s annual salary is $400,000; Lawrence Wong’s new salary will be roughly seven times that figure. This means that, in terms of remuneration, the Singaporean Prime Minister will be far ahead of other major world leaders. Wong spoke in Parliament on Tuesday regarding the revision of salaries for leaders and ministers. However, he also acknowledged that the issue of leaders’ salaries is a sensitive and emotive one.
Why will Wong receive such a high salary? The Singapore government argues that offering high salaries helps attract competent and talented individuals to the political sphere. The government holds the view that capable leadership is essential for good governance, and that appropriate remuneration is necessary to secure such leadership. However, as these salaries are significantly higher than the income of the average citizen, the issue often sparks public discussion and criticism. It is not just the Prime Minister; the salaries of Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers will also see an increase. The Deputy Prime Minister’s annual salary will rise from 1.87 million Singapore dollars to 3.06 million dollars. Meanwhile, ministers will receive annual salaries ranging from 1.80 million to 2.88 million Singapore dollars, depending on their responsibilities and portfolios. Amidst discussions regarding the salary hike, Lawrence Wong has made a major announcement. He stated that he would donate the entire amount of the salary increase received during his tenure to charitable causes. The last time ministers’ salaries were revised in Singapore was approximately 15 years ago. This time, the salary hike is being implemented based on the recommendations of an independent committee. However, officials will not receive the full increased salary immediately; starting October 15, a one-time adjustment of up to 9 percent will be provided based on individual circumstances and performance. Subsequent increases will depend on individual performance and responsibilities. Let us now look at how salaries compare globally. On this list, Hong Kong’s leader ranks second with an annual salary of $719,000—following Singapore—while the President of Switzerland holds the third spot. Their salaries, however, lag significantly behind that of the Singaporean Prime Minister.
