A recent survey conducted in June 2026 found that nearly one in four Americans—24% of respondents—want corporate CEOs to “stop being greedy” and share wealth more equitably, amid ongoing concerns about rising living costs and economic pressures facing everyday Americans.
What Happened
The survey, commissioned by opinion research firm Echelon Insights and the global advisory firm Brunswick Group, asked 1,001 registered voters what they most wanted corporate leaders to understand about the economic reality in the U.S. today. Twenty-three percent of voters cited CEO greed and excessive executive compensation as a key area of public frustration. Meanwhile, an even larger group—25%—highlighted the unaffordability of products, urging companies to lower prices to ease cost-of-living pressures.
Other concerns expressed in the survey included calls for fairer employee pay (13%), greater CEO connection to everyday Americans’ lives (12%), better treatment of workers (12%), and opposition to outsourcing or replacing American jobs with automation (7%).
Key Facts
The findings correspond with broader economic data showing significant disparities between CEO pay and typical worker earnings. In 2025, the average compensation package for CEOs of S&P 500 companies reached $17.7 million—a 6% increase from the year before, according to the Associated Press. By comparison, the median full-time U.S. worker’s salary in early 2026 was $64,220, a 3.4% year-over-year rise reported by Fidelity Investments using government labor statistics.
In addition, affordability continues to be a dominant concern, with 41% of surveyed Americans highlighting issues around product prices, and 23% directly citing high living costs. Separate research from financial services company Primerica echoes these worries: 71% of Americans surveyed said their incomes have not kept pace with inflation. CBS News price tracking data shows grocery costs, for example, have risen more than 20% since 2022.
What This Means
This survey underscores a growing disconnect between executive compensation and the financial realities faced by most Americans. Amid accelerating inflation and wage stagnation, public dissatisfaction with perceived corporate greed risks increasing pressure on businesses to reconsider their pricing strategies and executive pay structures.
For average consumers, this disconnect translates into tangible economic hardship—struggling to keep up with rising prices even as companies report record profits and CEOs continue to earn multi-million-dollar pay packages. Politically, these concerns heighten scrutiny ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where affordability is clearly top of mind for voters dissatisfied with both major parties’ responses.
Companies may face mounting demands to balance profitability with social responsibility. Calls for fairer employee compensation and a reduction in outsourcing reflect broader anxieties about job security and income inequality, factors that influence consumer confidence and spending patterns nationwide.
Background
Concerns about the widening gap between CEO wealth and worker income have been a persistent theme in American economic discourse. Despite slight wage gains for typical workers, these have consistently lagged behind executive pay increases and inflation, contributing to public feeling of economic insecurity. The survey findings align with prior polls showing skepticism about political leaders’ effectiveness in addressing cost-of-living pressures.
What Comes Next
The survey’s timing ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections suggests affordability and corporate responsibility will remain significant campaign issues. How companies respond to calls for lower prices, fairer wages, and executive restraint could influence consumer behavior and investor scrutiny in the months ahead.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following sources:
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