Meet Ayesha Thapar — Wife of Highest Paid Indian Origin CEO Nikesh Arora

New Delhi: The highest-paid CEO in the US is not Sundar Pichai or Satya Nadella but the Indian-origin Palo Alto Networks’ Nikesh Arora. This Indian-American CEO made it to the list of the top 10 highest paid CEOs of the US, according to a report from C-Suite Comp, which released its list on Monday. Nikesh Arora managed to bag 10th position on the list. The two lists of the highest paid CEOs were released based on two metrics, the first one being “total compensation granted” in 2023 and the other one “compensation actually paid.” Palo Alto Networks’ CEO made it to both lists. Arora ranked number four on the list of “Highest earning CEOs in the US by total compensation granted in 2023” with earning of $151.4 million. Arora also rounded up the 10 of “Highest earning CEOs in the US by compensation actually paid in 2023” with an annual compensation of $266.4 million.

Who toped the highest-paid CEO in the US list?

The list of the highest-paid CEO in the US was topped by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who earned $1.4 billion in 2023. Only one other chief executive crossed the $1 billion mark - Alexander Karp of Palantir Technologies.

Who is Nikesh Arora the highest-paid CEO? 

Starting his journey to enter the billionaire club in 2018 by joining Palo Alto Networks, Nikesh Arora has a stellar career at Google and SoftBank Group. Born to an Indian Air Force Officer, Arora obtained a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (now IIT-BHU). He also holds an MBA from Northeastern University and an MSc from Boston College. Arora married to the granddaughter of business tycoon Karam Chan Thapar, Ayesha Thapar. 

Who is Ayesha Thapar wife of Nikesh Arora and granddaughter of Karam Chan Thapar? 

Ayesha Thapar, wife of Nikesh Arora and granddaughter of business tycoon Karam  Chan Thapar is a successful restaurateur in the United States and the scion of leading Indian business conglomerate the Thapar Group.

Ayesha Thapar is the Managing Director of real-estate giant Indian City Properties Limited. 

Ayesha Thapar’s family business began from coal trading earned massive wealth through different business interests in textiles (JCT Limited), real estate (Indian City Properties), education and trading. They also owned the Oriental Bank of Commerce at one time. The KCT Group is currently helmed by Ayesha’s father Vikram Thapar and brother Varun Thapar.