A few weeks back, I was scrolling through TikTok—don’t judge me, we all do it—and I stumbled on a clip of a guy in a perfectly tailored suit, holding a massive check. The caption screamed: “This is how much the President makes!” My first thought? “Okay, this I have to see.” The guy was Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador, and the check was for his salary. But here’s the kicker: he was donating every single cent of it.
So, what’s the actual number?
Let’s cut to the chase: the President of El Salvador earns a monthly salary of $5,170. That’s about sixty-two thousand dollars a year. For a head of state, that’s honestly… modest? I mean, a mid-level software engineer in San Francisco makes that in three months. But in El Salvador, where the minimum wage hovers around $365 a month, it’s a solid chunk of change.
But wait—there’s more. Bukele voluntarily waived his salary back in 2019, just days after taking office. He said he’d work for free, because “the people’s money should go to the people.” Was that a PR stunt? Maybe. But he’s stuck to it. Every paycheck gets funneled into a public works fund. No salary for the boss.
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The ‘cool’ factor vs. the reality check
Here’s where it gets interesting. Bukele is hugely popular in El Salvador, especially among young folks. He’s the guy who made Bitcoin legal tender, who turned the country into a giant TikTok set, and who supposedly slashed gang violence. So when he says, “I don’t need your money,” people eat it up. It’s like the ultimate flex: “I’m already rich—I don’t need your salary.”
But let’s be real—he’s not exactly eating ramen noodles. Bukele comes from a family of wealthy business owners. His father was a successful advertising executive. The man owns private jets (or at least has access to them) and hangs out with world leaders. So, is the salary gesture actually meaningful? For a guy worth millions, it’s pocket change. For the average Salvadoran, it’s a year’s worth of income.
How does his salary compare to other presidents?
This is where the irony kicks in. Joe Biden earns $400,000 a year. That’s over six times what Bukele would earn. And the U.S. president also gets a whole lot of perks (free housing, a private plane, and a chef who can make you a grilled cheese at 3 AM). In Latin America, Bukele’s salary is average—Chile’s president makes around $120,000, Mexico’s about $180,000. But Bukele is the only one who says, “Nah, keep it.”
URGENTE: El Presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, es elegido como el
Still, critics argue that the gesture is symbolic, not structural. He could use that salary to, you know, pay for better public healthcare or schools. But he’s already doing that with the salary fund. The real question is: does a president who earns zero dollars care less about inflation or more about optics? (Spoiler: I think it’s both.)
The big picture: Is this a good thing?
Let me be honest with you: I don’t hate the move. It builds trust. When a leader says, “I’m in this for the mission, not the money,” it resonates. Especially in a country where corruption has been a cancer for decades. Bukele’s approval ratings are sky-high—above 80% in some polls. Coincidence? Probably not entirely.
But here’s the side-eye moment: while he works for free, his government spends millions on marketing gigs. They pay influencers to promote his policies. They buy Twitter Blue for state accounts. They host massive events for Bitcoin conferences. So, is saving $62,000 a year really that impressive when you’re spending $50 million on branding? Eh, it’s a nuance.
Also, the presidency has perks that salaries can’t cover. Security detail? Free. Helicopter rides? Free. Access to the presidential palace and its staff? Free. Let’s not pretend he’s struggling. He’s just choosing to skip the paycheck.
¿Cuánto cobran los presidentes en América Latina?
What Salvadorans actually think
I asked a friend from San Salvador about this. She laughed and said, “It’s a good show. But I’d prefer he just paid taxes like everyone else.” Ouch. There’s a sentiment that the salary waiver is a distraction from bigger issues: rising food prices, electricity costs, and a crackdown on civil liberties. Is he earning our trust, or hiding behind a gesture? Tough call.
On the flip side, street vendors in San Miguel told a reporter that “at least he’s not stealing.” Low bar, huh? But in a region where presidents often exit with Swiss bank accounts, a leader who says “no thanks” to a paycheck is a rare bird. It’s like finding a unicorn in a pasture of donkeys.
Final thought: The myth of the ‘free’ leader
Look, Cuanto gana el presidente de El Salvador? The official answer is $5,170 a month. The real answer? Zero. He works for likes, retweets, and a legacy as the world’s coolest president with a Bitcoin wallet. And maybe that’s enough for him.
But for you and me, sitting here in our pajamas, it’s a reminder: money is just one measure of power. Bukele has traded his salary for influence—and he’s winning. So the next time someone says, “I’d never work for free,” remember: he did. And 6.5 million people are watching to see if it pays off.