Christian Klein, the CEO of the German software giant SAP, earned over 16 million euros last year.

Compensation above 16 million euros

Christian Klein earned over 16 million euros in 2025, which constitutes the sum of his fixed salary and variable components, mainly performance bonuses. This amount places him among the best-paid managers in the German DAX index.

Decrease compared to the previous year

Despite the record amount, Klein's total compensation in 2025 was lower than in the previous year (2024). This decrease results from the lower value of exercised stock options, reflecting fluctuations in the capital market.

Controversies and comparisons within the DAX

Such high earnings of a technology corporation CEO spark discussions about pay disparity. However, Klein still lags behind the CEOs of some other DAX index companies, such as Volkswagen or Siemens, where compensation can be even higher.

SAP's strong financial condition

Klein's high bonuses are linked to SAP's very good financial results in 2025. The company recorded significant revenue growth, especially from cloud services, which translates into rewards for the management board.

Christian Klein, the CEO of the German enterprise software giant SAP, earned over 16 million euros last year. Information about his compensation for 2025 was disclosed in the company's annual report. This amount, while impressive, is lower than the total payout Klein received for the previous year. Founded in 1972, SAP is a global leader in providing enterprise management software, and its systems are used by hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide. The compensation of top-level managers in German listed companies, especially those in the DAX index, has been the subject of public debate and legal regulations for years, such as the Management Board Remuneration Transparency Act (VorstOG). Klein's compensation consisted of a fixed salary and variable components, including bonuses for financial performance and strategic goals. A significant portion of the total amount was the value of stock options, which serve as a long-term incentive. Although the amount exceeds 16 million euros, a decrease was recorded compared to 2024. As reported by Wirtschafts Woche, Klein earned more in the previous year, which was related to the higher valuation of stock option packages exercised at that time.„Auch wenn es eine stattliche Summe ist – im Vergleich zum Vorjahr ist es ein Rückgang.” (Even though it is a substantial sum – compared to the previous year, it is a decrease.) — Wirtschafts Woche The German weekly indicates that such fluctuations are typical for compensation systems based on stock value. The debate around top-manager compensation in Germany remains lively. Although Klein is one of the best-paid CEOs in the DAX, he is not the absolute record holder. CEOs of corporations like Volkswagen or Siemens have received even higher sums in the past. Klein's high bonuses are directly linked to SAP's excellent performance in 2025. The company, specializing in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and cloud solutions, recorded strong revenue growth, which management and shareholders considered a success.

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