When Gordon Brown picks up the keys to Number 10 Downing Street on June 27, he won't be the only one with a smile on his face - so will his bank manager.
That's because as chancellor Mr Brown earns £136,000, but as prime minister he will be taking home £187,000 - an instant pay hike of more than £50k.
Not bad, considering he will have the use of two homes - Downing Street and Chequers - rent-free, and meals and travel tend to come free with the job.
But according to a report today from management consultancy the Hay Group, Mr Brown would be pulling in £500,000 or more if he was working in the private sector.
And if he was the head of a multinational, his salary would top seven figures.
Philip Cohen of the Hay Group said: "The yawning pay gap at the very top level between the public and private sectors in the UK is a longstanding one.
"While we can all speculate why Gordon Brown wanted to be prime minister, it is certainly not for the money."
