Salaries That Rule: The Highest-Paid World Leaders

How does U.S. President Donald Trump's official salary stack up? Which leader makes 2,500 times the wage of the average worker in her country?

Follow along to find out. According to research from IG.com, here are the best-compensated leaders in the world — and how they earn their money. Pay figures have been rounded.

1. Queen Elizabeth II of the UK

Base pay: $103.7 million

At the top of the payscale is England's monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Queen E has been the reigning ruler of the United Kingdom since 1952.

A sovereign grant provides income for her personal use each year. With the U.K. average salary sitting at $43,000 a year, the queen receives $2,500 for every dollar that a typical worker makes.

The source of this fortune is mostly real estate investment income from properties owned by the monarchy. And luckily for the British royals, the income stream only seems to be growing.

Discover How a Simple Decision Today Could Lead to an Extra $1.3 Million in Retirement

Learn how you can set yourself up for a more prosperous future by exploring why so many people who work with financial advisors retire with more wealth.

Discover the full story and see how you could be on the path to an extra $1.3 million in retirement.

Read More

2. King Philippe of Belgium

Base pay: $14.5 million

Although the money is not technically a salary, the Belgian government covers the full tab for King Philippe's living expenses.

Belgium's central location makes it a European trade hub able to generate millions of euros for its government and head of state.

The king's payday is almost 300 times what a typical Belgian worker takes home. The average income in Belgium is around $50,000 a year.

3. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Base pay: $13.5 million

The Danish government's Civil List provides Queen Margrethe with money to cover costs and private expenses.

This fund comes from many years of investment by Danish royalty.

While this figure is about 250 times the average salary of a worker in Denmark, Queen Margrethe II doesn’t get to spend all that money on herself.

Much of the money goes to pay royal employees, so the fund is more like a budget allocation than a true salary.

Maximize Your Savings

Discover the best option for your financial future. Whether you’re looking for higher returns or easy access to your cash, compare the benefits of CDs and savings accounts to find the right fit for your goals.

Learn More

4. Emperor Akihito of Japan

Base pay: $3.1 million

The emperor of Japan receives a not-too-shabby stipend each year for personal expenses.

At 84, Emperor Akihito has handled his finances well and has an estimated net worth of $40 million. His properties are owned by the Japanese government.

The average Japanese wage is $39,000, so the emperor makes about 80 times the typical worker’s salary.

5. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Base pay: $1.1 million

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands earns the least out of all the monarchs on this list — and he works for his money.

In the Netherlands, the king has a fairly active civic role. Under the constitution, he must approve or refuse all legislation. He also is the diplomatic head of state and the formal face of the government.

King Willem-Alexander's income is roughly 20 times the average Dutch salary of $52,000.

6. Malcolm Turnbull, ex-prime minister of Australia

Base pay: $527,900

Malcolm Turnbull earned quite a cushy salary during his time in office.

During his tenure as the 29th prime minister of Australia, Turnbull was the highest-paid nonroyal world leader. In August, he was ousted and replaced by Scott Morrison.

The average Australian salary is $52,000 — and Turnbull was making about 10 times that amount.

7-8. President Alain Berset and Chancellor Walter Thurnherr of Switzerland

Base pay: $483,000 (Berset) and $470,300 (Thurnherr)

Switzerland's government is run by two leaders, President Alain Berset (above) and Chancellor Walter Thurnherr. Each makes about six times the national average wage of $62,000.

Swiss leaders don't earn their tidy amounts for too long.

The government, known as the Federal Council, is made up of seven Federal Councillors.These councillors rotate every year, so a different person takes on the role — and salary — of president.

9. President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria

Base pay: $404,500

As the face of the government and the head of state, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has less to do with the everyday governance of the nation than other leaders.

Even so, his income is about eight times that of the average Austrian worker, who earns about $48,000.

Although Van der Bellen is technically not royalty, he has family roots in Russian nobility.

10. US President Donald Trump

Base pay: $400,000

President Trump did not seek the presidency because he needed the salary — although it’s definitely an enviable wage.

According to U.S. Census data, the average household income in the United States is about $59,000. This means a president earns almost seven times what a typical American family earns.

Trump — who has a net worth of $3.1 billion, according to Forbes — has been donating his presidential pay to various federal agencies.

11. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany

Base pay: $369,700

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is very active on the global stage today and is often called the most powerful woman in the world.

She’s backed by the strong German economy and its reputation for technological innovations in engineering and the automotive industry.

Though Merkel comes in only at No. 11 on IG's list, she makes about eight times the salary of a typical German worker, who takes home an average of about $46,000 a year.