Chris Kempczinski's net worth and base salary: How rich is McDonald's CEO?
Chris Kempczinski's net worth has become a topic of interest as he leads McDonald’s Corporation as its president and CEO. Although his exact worth is not publicly disclosed, his compensation details, including his base salary, bonuses, and stock awards offer a clear picture of how financially successful he is.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Chris Kempczinski has been McDonald's CEO and chairman since 2019.
- He began his career at Procter & Gamble.
- Kempczinski earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
- While his exact net worth is not public, he is considered a multi-millionaire.
Profile summary
Full name | Christopher John Kempczinski |
Date of birth | 1968 |
Age | 57 years old (as of 2025) |
Place of birth | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
Current residence | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
Nationality | American |
Mother | Ann Marie Kempczinski |
Father | Richard Kempczinski |
Relationship status | Married |
Spouse | Heather |
Children | Two |
School | Indian Hill High School (Cincinnati suburbs) |
University | Duke University, Harvard Business School |
Profession | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's Corporation |
Social media |
Chris Kempczinski's net worth in 2025
Although full information on McDonald’s CEO's net worth is not available, the company has disclosed Chris Kempczinski's salary and stock compensation.
Given his multi-million-dollar annual pay, stock and performance-based incentives, his wealth is widely believed to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Reflecting on his career success, he shared in an Instagram post, saying:
My career path has brought me to some incredible places, guided by my family, friends, and inspiring mentors.
Source: Original
Chris Kempczinski made about $18.2 million in 2022
As Business Insider published, Chris Kempczinski's salary totalled nearly $18.2 million in 2022. These earnings, as Restaurant Dive noted, are allegedly 1,014 times the median employee's earnings. The table below explains what the payment was made up of:
Purpose | Amount received |
Base salary | $1.5 million |
Stock awards | $7.5 million |
Stock options | $7.5 million |
Non-equity incentive compensation | About $855,000 |
Other compensation | Over $811,000 |
Personal use of company aircraft | Around $400,000 |
How much does McDonald's CEO get paid?
As the CEO and chairman of McDonald’s, Restaurant Business Online reported that he was paid $19.2 million in 2023 in salary, bonuses and stock, an 8% increase over 2022.
In 2021, he earned about $20 million. Most of Kempczinski’s pay package is reportedly in the form of stock and option awards, totalling about $13 million.
Exploring Chris Kempczinski's career journey
Chris Kempczinski worked through a series of leadership roles to become the CEO of McDonald's. Below is an exploration of how he advanced through corporate ranks:
Procter & Gamble set the stage for his career journey
Chris Kempczinski began his professional journey at Procter & Gamble, according to the company's official website. He worked in brand management within the company’s soap sector. He spent four years at P&G.
Following graduation, he joined the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a management consultant. At BCG, he specialised in consumer products and pharmaceuticals, gaining deep exposure to corporate strategy, market analysis, and operational efficiency.
Source: Getty Images
Executive roles from PepsiCo to McDonald’s
In 2000, Kempczinski joined PepsiCo’s corporate strategy and development group. His strong performance led to a major promotion in 2006 as the Vice President of Marketing for the Non-Carbonated Beverages Division of Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages.
Kempczinski moved to Kraft Foods, where he served as Executive Vice President of Growth Initiatives and President of Kraft International. He officially left Kraft in September 2015.
He joined McDonald’s Corporation in late 2015 as Executive Vice President, Strategy, Business Development, and Innovation. In October 2016, Kempczinski was promoted to President of McDonald’s USA.
Appointment as McDonald’s CEO
According to McKinsey, Chris was appointed President and CEO of McDonald’s in November 2019 after Steve Easterbrook's dismissal. Reflecting on his career, Kempczinski noted on LinkedIn that challenges and unexpected turns have contributed to his growth, saying:
Career paths often come with unexpected twists – and I’ve faced a few in my journey, but they’ve always paid off in some way or another.
Source: Getty Images
Exploring Chris Kempczinski's education
Kempczinski graduated from Indian Hill High School in suburban Cincinnati in 1987. He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1991 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1997.
Chris Kempczinski supports charitable causes
Beyond his role as McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski is reportedly actively involved in charitable and humanitarian efforts. One of his most significant charitable roles is serving as a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
Chris Kempczinski is married and lives in Chicago
The CEO is married to Heather, his university sweetheart. He shared a LinkedIn post on Valentine’s Day in 2022 where he celebrated her, saying:
Happy Valentine’s Day to my forever Valentine: my wife, Heather... I’ve always felt incredibly lucky to have met her when I did – and to have been able to grow up with her, together. I’m the luckiest guy around.
Chris and his wife have two children, Jack and Lily, according to a report by Duke Global Health Institute.
Source: Instagram
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the CEO of McDonald's worth? Chris Kempczinski's net worth is not public knowledge.
- Is the CEO of McDonald's a billionaire? While he is not a billionaire, Kempczinski has a multi-million-dollar net worth.
- Where is Chris Kempczinski's house? His residence is in Chicago, though further details are private.
Conclusion
While Chris Kempczinski’s net worth continues to attract public interest, his impact as McDonald’s CEO defines his legacy. With his salary, stock awards, and long tenure in global executive roles, his financial standing firmly ranks him among the world’s most highly compensated corporate leaders.
READ MORE: Damola Adamolekun's net worth: From Harvard grad to Red Lobster CEO
As Briefly.co.za published, Damola Adamolekun’s salary and equities helped him earn several million dollars.
Damola has held executive roles at several companies, including Paulson & Co., P.F. Chang’s, and, currently, Red Lobster.
Source: Briefly News
