Top 12 Highest Paid World Leaders

President Obama leads the pack with $400,000 a year. The presidential salary doubled when George W. Bush became president in 2001.

South African President Jacob Zuma is the fourth highest paid world leader, according to a new report.

He makes $223,500 a year, just behind Germany’s Angela Merkel ($234,400) and Canada’s Stephen Harper ($260,000).

The British prime minister follows Zuma with £142,500 ($214,782) a year. This includes his salary as a member of parliament, which is £67,060.

Below is the list of the 12 best paid leaders in the world:

1. United States President Barack Obama -- $400,000

The 44th President of the United States Barack Obama’s base salary is $400,000 a year. He also has access to a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 (about Rs 66 lakh) non-taxable travel account, and $19,000 for entertainment.

2. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper -- $260,000

3. German chancellor Angela Merkel -- $234,400

4. South Africa President Jacob Zuma -- $223,500

5. British Prime Minister David Cameron -- $214,800

6. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- $202,700

7. French President Francois Hollande -- $194,300

8. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong -- $140,000

9. Russian President Vladimir Putin -- $136,000

10. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi -- $124,600

11. President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff -- $120,000

12. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- $30,300