Saudi Aramco pays world’s largest dividend

Saudi Aramco pays the largest dividend worldwide. Its dividend is worth more than payouts from the next five largest global payers combined.

Saudi Aramco’s payouts to the government and other investors could increase its dividend — which stood at $75.8 billion last year — by more than $20 billion in 2023, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Accordingly, Aramco shareholders will be monitoring oil prices more closely than ever.

That extra payout alone, amounting to $20 billion, would be equivalent to Microsoft Corp.'s estimated annual dividend.

And while Apple Inc. may be the biggest company in terms of market capitalization, Aramco’s shareholder payouts dwarf all others, exceeding the combined dividend of Apple and Microsoft.

The following table, published by Bloomberg, shows the biggest estimated dividend in 2023, including already-paid dividends, in addition to estimated payouts. Aramco’s estimates do not include the company’s announcement on May 9 about increased dividend.

Source: Bloomberg