C Vijayakumar Retains Title of Highest Paid Indian IT CEO with ₹94.6 Crore Package in FY25

Prime Highlights

HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar took home ₹94.6 crore in FY25, and he remained India’s highest-paid IT CEO for the second year in a row.
His salary has been boosted 71% for FY26, and his next paycheck amounts to ₹154 crore.

Key Facts

Vijayakumar’s FY25 pay was 662.5 times that of the average HCLTech worker.
His compensation consists of basic pay, bonus, stock options, and benefits — all largely taken out via HCL America Inc.

Key Background

HCLTech’s MD and CEO C Vijayakumar has again been the highest-compensated Indian IT CEO in FY25 with a pay of ₹94.6 crore. For the second year in succession, he has topped the chart, not just to recognise his worth as a strategist to HCLTech but also the faith that the company has put on his leadership journey.

The FY25 pay package includes base salary of ₹16.88 crore, performance bonus of ₹14.91 crore, long-term incentives in the way of ₹59.84 crore stock awards, and approximately ₹1.9 crore of other benefits. Curiously enough, most of his compensation comes from the U.S.-operated HCLTech business, i.e., HCL America Inc., which reflects as much in his global leadership role in the company.

While Vijayakumar’s pay went up nearly 8% year over year, it is a stark contrast from other HCLTech employees with an average increase in salary of 3.1%. His pay is 662.5 times the median employee compensation, another indicator of an increasing gap in pay — one that’s hotly debated in India’s business governance circle.

As a token of appreciation for his contribution, HCLTech’s board has again appointed Vijayakumar as CEO for the next five years starting September 2026. The board has also sanctioned his compensation package to grow 71% in FY26, boosting his year package to approximately ₹154 crore. This reflects the board’s faith in his strategic outlook, especially with the company piloting itself through evolving challenges in the global IT space.

Vijayakumar’s consistent performance and penetration expertise have made him a permanent fixture as a game-changer in India’s IT industry, making him the highest-paid Indian IT CEO ever.