How much do top general counsels make?

Asked by: Helen Pollich  |  Last update: January 21, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (3 votes)

How much does a General Counsel make? The estimated total pay for a General Counsel is $340,033 per year, with an average salary of $206,535 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

Who is the highest paid General Counsel?

The highest paid GC in the S&P 500 last year was Kent Walker at Alphabet, who received total compensation of $27.3 million, followed by Apple's Kate Adams ($26.9 million), Blackstone's John Finley ($17.9 million), Booking Holdings' Peter Millones ($15.5 million) and Broadcom's Mark Brazeal ($15.4 million).

How much do fortune 500 general counsels make?

Overall Compensation Overview:

New numbers reveal the average base salary for General Counsels at Fortune 500 companies to be $583,250 and total all-in compensation to average $3,594,449 (the latter figure aggregates base salary, stock options, and bonuses, among others).

How much does a General Counsel make at McKinsey?

Average McKinsey & Company Associate General Counsel yearly pay in the United States is approximately $261,236, which is 79% above the national average. Salary information comes from 1 data point collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 24 months.

Is General Counsel prestigious?

General counsel positions are highly sought-after and involve a lot of responsibility, so those with the right mix of attributes generally land the best positions first. These personality traits include: Sound judgment and the ability to evaluate options fairly. Leadership and a visionary quality.

The Evolving Role of General Counsels

37 related questions found

Is general counsel higher than VP?

The VP of Legal often reports directly to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) or General Counsel (GC). In some organizations, these titles may be used interchangeably, depending on the structure and needs of the business. In organizations without a CLO or GC, the VP of Legal may serve as the top legal executive.

What is the highest ranking lawyer?

The attorney general acts as the principal legal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council.

How much does Goldman Sachs pay general counsel?

Ruemmler received $16 million in total annual compensation during 2023, according to a March 15 proxy filing by Goldman, up from $12 million the year prior. The sum includes $8.7 million in performance-based restricted stock units, $5.8 million in cash, and a $1.5 million annual base salary.

What is the highest salary in McKinsey?

What is the highest salary in McKinsey & Company? The highest-paying job at McKinsey & Company is a Senior Partner with a salary of ₹1.8 Crore to ₹3.5 Crores per year. The top 10% of employees earn more than ₹51.20 lakhs per year. The top 1% earn more than a whopping ₹120 lakhs per year.

What is the salary of legal counsel in BCG?

The average salary for Boston Consulting Group legal counsels is $161,020 per year. Boston Consulting Group legal counsel salaries range between $123,000 to $210,000 per year.

How can a lawyer make 500k a year?

How can a lawyer make 500k a year?
  1. Create an SEO for Lawyers Strategy.
  2. Build a Solid Law Firm Website.
  3. Write Engaging Attorney Content.
  4. Start a Lawyer PPC Campaign.
  5. Register Your Law Firm in Relevant Listings and Directories.
  6. Engage in Reputation Management for Lawyers.

How many hours do general counsels work?

On average, firm lawyers work 54.8 hours per week, while in-house counsel works 47.2 hours per week. It goes without saying, but corporate counsel does not have to worry about landing clients and increasing billable hours. This may lead to lower stress levels and decreased burnout.

How much does MGM General Counsel get paid?

The estimated total pay range for a Legal Counsel at MGM Resorts International is $119K–$207K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.

How much do general counsels make in the Fortune 500?

The report, based on an analysis of the Equilar 500—the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue—reveals that the median total compensation for General Counsel during the five-year period grew to $3.3 million in 2023, from $2.6 million in 2019.

Who is the highest paid lawyer in us?

Peter Angelos | $2 Billion

The wealthiest lawyer in North America, Peter Angelos earned his J.D. from the University of Baltimore and gained prominence in asbestos litigation, securing over $100 million from a single case.

How much do top partners at McKinsey make?

McKinsey Associate Partner/Partner/Senior Partner salary 2023 (Partner-level) McKinsey Partners in the US may earn up to $777,000 annually. However, the below data should only be used for reference, as a Partner-level person at McKinsey in the US will likely make more than $1,000,000 annually.

Is McKinsey the most prestigious?

McKinsey & Company is one of the top prestigious management consulting firms in the world. It is known for its highly influential clients, including most Fortune 500 companies, as well as governments, and non-governmental organizations which it advises on critical strategic issues.

How much do McKinsey MBA graduates make?

McKinsey & Company

McKinsey MBA consultants earn $192,000 in base salary with performance bonuses of up to $40,000. McKinsey also offers 50% off second year MBA tuition for returning interns. A McKinsey consultant salary for master's graduates comes in at $112,000 with performance bonuses of up to $18,000.

How much does Carlyle General Counsel make?

NEW: The Carlyle Group's longtime global general counsel Jeffrey Ferguson earned more than $8.7 million last year, according to a securities filing.

How much does a VP attorney make at Goldman Sachs?

The average Vice President and Assistant General Counsel base salary at Goldman Sachs is $239K per year.

How much does an assistant General Counsel make at McKinsey?

The estimated total pay range for a Associate General Counsel at McKinsey & Company is $332K–$524K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.

How much do top 1% lawyers make?

— How do we know how much do lawyers make? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

Do top lawyers make millions?

How Much Do Top Lawyers Make? According to ALM Global's 2023 Global 100 Ranked by Profits Per Equity Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (the highest-paid lawyers in the United States) pays their equity partners a whopping $7.52 million per year.

How many attorney generals are there?

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have an attorney general who serves as the chief legal officer in their jurisdiction, counsels its government agencies and legislatures, and is a representative of the public ...