Shankh Mitra, an Indian-origin executive and Jadavpur University graduate, ranked among the world’s highest-paid CEOs after receiving reported compensation of about $821.1 million from Welltower in 2025. However, most of the package came from stock awards and long-term incentives rather than salary. Mitra’s career took him from engineering in Kolkata to Columbia Business School, PwC, investment management and eventually the CEO role at the healthcare-focused real estate investment trust. His journey highlights an unconventional path to corporate leadership.


