When you open your mail and see a medical bill that makes your stomach drop, it’s only natural to wonder where all that money is going. If you're insured by UnitedHealthcare, you might find yourself looking toward the top of the ladder. Honestly, the numbers are pretty staggering.
The united healthcare ceo salary isn't just a simple paycheck. It's a massive, multi-layered financial machine.
In 2024, Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (the parent company of UnitedHealthcare), took home a total compensation package worth $26.3 million. That is a roughly 12% jump from the $23.5 million he made the year before. To put that in perspective, the median employee at the company earns about $75,778.
That means Witty makes roughly 348 times more than his average worker.
Breaking Down the $26.3 Million Payday
Most people hear "salary" and think of the number on a W-2. But for a Fortune 500 exec, the actual "base salary" is often the smallest part of the pie. Witty’s base salary was "only" $1.5 million. While that’s a fortune to most of us, it’s barely 6% of his total take-home.
So, where does the rest of the $26.3 million come from?
- Stock Awards: $17.25 million. This is the big one. It’s meant to keep the CEO focused on making the stock price go up.
- Option Awards: $5.75 million.
- Non-equity Incentive Plan: $1.5 million. This is essentially a performance-based cash bonus.
- Other Compensation: $339,097. This covers things like security, travel, and various executive perks.
The logic from the board of directors is basically that if the company does well, the CEO should do well. And UnitedHealth Group is a juggernaut. In 2024, their revenue grew to over $400 billion.
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The Transition to Steve Hemsley
Things got a bit interesting in 2025. Andrew Witty stepped down in May for "personal reasons," and the company brought back a familiar face: Stephen Hemsley. Hemsley isn't a newbie; he ran the show from 2006 to 2017.
Hemsley’s new deal is structured a bit differently, likely to calm down shareholders who were getting twitchy about executive pay. He’s taking a base salary of $1 million. However, the real meat of his deal is in stock options that only vest after three years. The idea is to force him to stick around and fix the ship after a rocky 2024 involving massive cyberattacks and high-profile legal headaches.
What About Brian Thompson?
You can't talk about the united healthcare ceo salary without mentioning Brian Thompson, the former CEO of the UnitedHealthcare insurance division. Before his tragic death in late 2024, Thompson was a key figure in the company’s massive growth.
His compensation for the 2024 fiscal year was approximately $8.98 million.
His pay structure followed a similar pattern to Witty’s, though on a slightly smaller scale:
- Base Salary: $961,539
- Stock Awards: $6,000,567
- Option Awards: $2,000,055
- Other Comp: $23,359
Thompson’s pay was actually a bit lower than the $10.2 million he made in 2023. Under his tenure, the insurance arm’s profits jumped from $12 billion to $16 billion in just two years. When you're managing health coverage for 49 million Americans, the board tends to write very large checks for that kind of growth.
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Why This Matters to You
It’s easy to get angry at these figures. When premiums go up or claims get denied, seeing a $26 million payout feels like a punch in the gut. But from a purely business standpoint, UnitedHealth is the largest healthcare company in the U.S. They are currently #4 on the Fortune 500.
Companies of this size argue they have to pay these "market rates" to get the best talent. They aren't just competing with other insurers; they're competing with tech giants and global banks for leaders who can manage hundreds of thousands of employees.
Critics, however, point out the "Say on Pay" votes where shareholders get to voice their opinions. In 2025, some major advisory firms actually recommended voting against the company's executive pay plans. They felt the rewards were getting disconnected from the actual value being delivered to patients and the headaches caused by systemic issues like the Change Healthcare data breach.
How it compares to other CEOs
UnitedHealth usually sits at the top of the mountain, but they aren't alone.
- Cigna’s David Cordani: Pulled in about $23.2 million in 2024.
- CVS Health’s Karen Lynch: Earned $23.4 million before her departure in late 2024.
- Centene’s Sarah London: Around $20.6 million.
Basically, if you are running a major American health insurer, you are likely clearing $20 million a year once the stock settles.
Actionable Insights for Consumers
Knowing the united healthcare ceo salary doesn't change your premium, but it does give you context on how these companies operate. They are profit-driven entities beholden to shareholders.
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If you feel like your costs are rising while executive pay soars, you have a few ways to push back or protect yourself:
Review Your Plan's Loss Ratio
By law (the ACA), insurers must spend 80% to 85% of premiums on actual medical care. If they don't, they have to send you a rebate. Keep an eye out for those checks in the mail—they happen more often than you’d think.
Challenge Denials
The system is designed for efficiency, and sometimes that means "no" is the default answer. If a claim is denied, appeal it. Data shows that a significant percentage of internal appeals actually result in a reversal.
Watch the Proxy Statements
If you own stock in UnitedHealth (even through a 401k), you have a "Say on Pay" vote. Use it. Institutional investors are starting to look much more closely at whether these $26 million paydays are truly earned.
The reality is that executive pay in healthcare is a lightning rod for the broader debate about American medicine. While the CEOs manage billions in revenue and complex global operations, the person sitting in the waiting room is the one ultimately footing the bill.