Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon’s 2025 Pay Soars to $47 Million After Strong Deal-Making Year

Goldman Sachs revealed that CEO David Solomon’s total annual compensation climbed 20.5% to $47 million for 2025, reflecting a standout year for the Wall Street powerhouse and placing him among the highest-paid chief executives in the U.S. financial sector. The pay package surpassed JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s $43 million compensation announced a day earlier, highlighting Goldman’s strong performance relative to its peers.

According to the bank’s filing, Solomon’s compensation included a base salary of $2 million and $45 million in variable pay tied to performance. This marks a steady rise from $31 million in 2023 and $39 million in 2024, underscoring Goldman Sachs’ sustained growth under his leadership. The board said it determined the payout after assessing the firm’s financial results, the broader operating environment in 2025, and long-term shareholder value creation.

Goldman Sachs capped the year with better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, driven by a rebound in dealmaking and strong trading revenues. The bank played a key advisory role in several high-profile transactions during 2025, including the $56.5 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts and Alphabet’s $32 billion acquisition of cloud security company Wiz. It was also a lead underwriter for Medline’s IPO, the largest global listing of the year, further cementing its dominance in capital markets.

These blockbuster deals helped Goldman reclaim the top spot in global mergers and acquisitions, advising on $1.48 trillion worth of transactions and generating $4.6 billion in fees. The bank has expressed optimism for investment banking activity in 2026, supported by lower interest rates, ample liquidity, and a more business-friendly regulatory stance under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Under Solomon’s stewardship since becoming CEO in 2018, Goldman Sachs shares surged 53.5% in 2025, outperforming the broader market and most banking rivals. The firm also strengthened its leadership bench by appointing President and COO John Waldron to its board, reinforcing succession planning as Goldman looks ahead to continued growth.