10 Employees at the Smithsonian Take Home $31 Million in Compensation

10 of the most highly compensated employees in 2024 at the Smithsonian Institute (Smithsonian) – one of the most well-known museums in the world and  the world’s largest museum and research complex with 21 museums (9 of which are on the National Mall in Washington, DC, an additional 10 in the DC metropolitan area and 2 in New York City, plus the National Zoo, also in DC and the Smithsonian Gardens, also in DC), and 14 education and research centers – received $31 million from 2019-2024 (note:  highly compensated employees in any of the years 2019-2023 but not in 2024 are not included):

Amy Chen:  Total Compensation 2019-2024:  $6 million

• 2024:  $1,198,017
• 2023:  $1,157,312
• 2022:  $  825,050
• 2021:  $  714,391
• 2020:  $  704,102
• 2019:  $  678,810

Lonnie Bunch:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $5 million

• 2024:  $989,566
• 2023:  $929,770
• 2022:  $810,440
• 2021:  $790.467
• 2020:  $920,976
• 2019:  $416,795

Jeffrey Smith:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $4 million

• 2024:  $782,937
• 2023:  $758,006
• 2022:  $505,377
• 2021:  $675,701
• 2020:  $541,731
• 2019:  $526,711

Ryan Dotson:  Total Compensation 2021-2024:  $2 million

• 2024:  $656,712
• 2023:  $685,361
• 2022:  Not Listed
• 2021:  $527,155

Michael Giovenco:  Total Compensation 2020-2024:  $2 million

• 2024:  $698,426
• 2023:  $673,485
• 2022:  Not Listed
• 2021:  $563,046
• 2020:  $439,102

Meroe Park:  Total Compensation 2021-2024:  $2 million

• 2024:  $663,585
• 2023:  $627,057
• 2022:  $573,996
• 2021:  $490,337

Carol LeBlanc:  Total Compensation: 2019-2024:  $3 million

• 2024:  $601,526
• 2023:  $432,374
• 2022:  $467,909
• 2021:  $564,788
• 2020:  $525,519
• 2019:  $461,324

Ronald Cortez:  Total Compensation 2023-2024:  $1 million

• 2024:  $558,910
• 2023:  $487,400

Melissa Chiu:  Total Compensation 2019-2023:  $3 million

• 2024:  $532,653
• 2023:  $515,759
• 2022:  $485,309
• 2021:  $481,039
• 2020:  $492,306
• 2019:  $517,046

Robert Spiller:  Total Compensation 2019-2024:  $3 million

• 2024:  $531,688
• 2023:  $510,076
• 2022:  $478,044
• 2021:  $469,389
• 2020:  $477,936
• 2019:  $452,564