Indian-origin executive Shankh Mitra, CEO of US healthcare real estate giant Welltower, has emerged as the world’s second-highest-paid chief executive after receiving a compensation package valued at $821 million in 2025, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Only Elon Musk, whose compensation package was valued at $158 billion, ranked ahead of Mitra.
The report noted that executive compensation rebounded sharply in 2025, with nearly a dozen CEOs earning more than $200 million and the highest number of executives crossing the $100 million mark since 2021.
From Kolkata To Corporate America
Shankh Mitra’s journey to the top of corporate America began in Kolkata, where he completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering from Jadavpur University.
He later moved to the United States and earned an MBA in Applied Value Investing from Columbia Business School, laying the foundation for a successful career in finance and investment management.
Before joining Welltower, Mitra held senior investment roles at:
- Citadel LLC
- Millennium Management
During this period, he specialised in real estate securities and investment portfolio management.
Rise At Welltower
Mitra joined Welltower in 2016.
His progression within the healthcare real estate investment trust was rapid:
- 2016: Joined Welltower.
- 2018: Appointed Chief Investment Officer.
- 2020: Became Chief Executive Officer.
At the time of his appointment, Welltower’s Lead Independent Director Jeffrey H. Donahue praised Mitra’s investment expertise and operational leadership, saying he had strengthened the company’s long-term position.
Mitra described the appointment as a privilege, saying he was “humbled and honoured” to lead the company.
Majority Of Compensation Came Through Stock Awards
Unlike traditional executive compensation packages that rely heavily on salary and bonuses, almost all of Mitra’s pay was equity-based.
According to the report:
- Around $789 million came through a stock award granted in October 2025.
- By year-end, the value of those shares had appreciated to more than $1 billion, driven by Welltower’s strong stock performance.
However, the compensation remains performance-linked.
Under the award structure:
- Roughly half the shares will vest in 2031, provided Mitra remains with the company.
- The remaining shares depend on Welltower achieving ambitious long-term performance goals, including:
- Increasing its market value by 45%.
- Outperforming major stock market indices over a five-year period.
Welltower Dominates CEO Pay Rankings
The report also highlighted that Welltower was unusual in having four executives receive compensation packages exceeding $100 million during the year.
Other Highest-Paid CEOs In 2025
According to the report, the top-paid executives included:
| Executive | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Elon Musk | $158 billion |
| Shankh Mitra | $821 million |
| George Kurtz | $248 million |
| Hock Tan | $205 million |
| David Zaslav | $165 million |
| Stephen Schwarzman | $126 million |
Nikesh Arora Also Features In Top 10
Another Indian-origin executive, Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, also featured among the world’s highest-paid CEOs.
Arora ranked eighth, receiving a compensation package worth $100 million.