Across the biggest U.S. companies, the median pay for CEOs climbed to $12.4 million in 2018, the fourth straight post-recession high recorded by the The Wall Street Journal.
The gains came even as the stock market fell for many of the largest companies that WSJ included in its analysis. The publication examined corporate proxy statements from S&P 500 companies filed through May 1.
Most of the S&P 500 CEOs received at least 5 percent raises in 2018. Still, shareholder return was down 5.8 percent overall, according to WSJ's analysis of MyLogIQ data.
Healthcare, media and financial companies were helmed by some of the highest-earning CEOs in 2018. In comparison, technology CEOs only held three of the top 25 spots.
Stephen P. MacMillan, CEO of medical technology company Hologic, was among the highest paid CEOs in 2018. He made $42 million in 2018, including cash and stock pay and other figures.