The world’s highest paid leader is set for a 64% pay rise. Here’s how others compare
The world's highest paid leader is set for a 64% pay rise. Here's how others compare. Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attends the 28th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025. (Photo by Vincent Thian / POOL / AFP) (Photo by VINCENT THIAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Vincent Thian | Afp | Getty ImagesSingapore's prime minister has commonly been cited as the world's highest paid elected leader.
What happened
A quick comparison shows the gap between Wong and other world leaders is quite stark. 1 million could therefore initially see annual pay rise to around S$1. Here, this 40-mm stainless-steel worldtimer features a first-of-its-kind, patent-pending system for adjusting the time to account for daylight saving. His new package is more than four times the Swiss President, and seven times the $400,000 salary paid to the U. Following the revisions, Wong's annual pay package will rise to 3.
6 million package is more than the combined statutory pay of the leaders of the U. Data from the Public Service Division revealed the salary level of an entry level minister, known as the MR4 grade, is based on the median income of the 1,000 highest-earning Singapore citizens, with a 40% discount to reflect the ethos of public service.
The wider picture
The city-state says that competitive salaries help it attract capable candidates who may otherwise remain in business, finance or other highly paid professions. Skip to main contentSave this storySave this storyWhile Watches and Wonders every April is undoubtedly the watch world's main event of the year, Geneva Watch Days—which inauspiciously launched in 2020, the year Covid was declared a pandemic—is now establishing itself as a serious follow-up. Here are WIRED's picks of the best watches that dropped this week.
Casio G-Shock “CasioNaut” SeriesCourtesy of NotebookcheckNot part of Geneva Watch Days, here's something genuinely new from Casio's G-Shock line that's leaked and could break the internet. There might be stainless-steel versions too—the GMC-2500D series, going for about $320. Dialing up the model's association with Christopher Nolan's classic sci-fi film, Hamilton has added a version to its collection with a dappled “comet-inspired” face where the blue center is intended to reflect the glow of ionized gases in space.
Borrowing its name from the de Havilland Comet, the world’s first commercial jet airliner, the watch's split bezel divides cities according to whether they observe daylight saving. Originally launched in 2015 at Baselworld, the North Flag was the first Tudor to boast one of the company's in-house movements.
What has been reported
Water resistance is a respectable 100 meters, and there's a display caseback, too. However, the highlight is the laser-engraved pattern on the case and bracelet, which looks more like it belongs in the world of Minecraft than horology. Hublot Big Bang Original Soft TouchCourtesy of HublotNever a brand to shy away from doing something more than a little “out there,” Hublot has given its iconic Big Bang Original a new feel with a fabric makeover thanks to a velvet-like rubber invention.
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What happens next
Skip NavigationMarketsBusinessInvestingTechPolitics & PolicyVideoWatchlistInvesting ClubPROLivestreamMenuKey PointsWong announced in Parliament that ministerial salaries will be adjusted upwards after 15 years, with his annual pay package rising to 3. Singapore describes its system as a "clean wage" model, without hidden personal perks or other salary components. Now, incumbent Lawrence Wong will see the compensation gap between him and his global counterparts grow even wider. Wong on Tuesday announced in the parliament that ministerial salaries will be adjusted upwards, having remained unchanged for 15 years.
6 million figure consists of both fixed and variable components, and Wong has pledged to donate his full salary increase to charity for five years, assuming he remains prime minister. S. , Switzerland, Australia, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand, based on U. S. dollar conversions as of Tuesday, although some of these countries do exclude bonuses and other allowances.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across cnbc.com, wired.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.