The Reality of Being a Top Investment Banker at Rothschild & Co.
Working as a top investment banker at Rothschild & Co. may seem like a dream career for many in the finance industry. The name Rothschild carries a prestigious reputation and financial allure that few other firms can match. However, the reality for senior investment bankers at the firm is quite different from what one might expect.
Rothschild has a limited number of senior investment bankers, known as material risk takers (MRTs), whose professional activities significantly impact the firm’s risk profile. These individuals also earn over £660k (€756k/$871k) annually.
Despite their importance, Rothschild’s banking MRTs are not as well-compensated as one might think. In 2025, the firm paid its 51 investment banking MRTs an average of €237k ($273k) in fixed compensation and €239k (€276k) in variable compensation, totaling €476k ($549k) on average. This is comparable to the salary of a young investment banking VP in London, despite the seniority of the MRTs.
Unfortunately, the situation has not improved for Rothschild’s banking MRTs in recent years. In fact, their compensation has declined, with average earnings dropping from €561k ($647k) in 2023 to €476k ($549k) in 2025.
Asset Management: A Path to Wealth at Rothschild
For those looking to get rich at Rothschild, the path may lie in asset management rather than investment banking. Asset management MRTs at the firm have been the highest-paid group since 2022, with average annual earnings exceeding €1m ($1.2m) in both 2024 and 2025.
In 2025, the average asset management MRT at Rothschild earned €459k ($532k) in fixed compensation and €606k ($703k) in variable compensation, totaling €1.1m ($1.2m). These salaries are nearly double what the average investment banker earns and more than double the bonus.
While Rothschild does not disclose pay bands for high earners in the same detail as larger banks, it had 17 employees earning over €1m, six earning over €2m, and four earning over €5m in 2025. This is quite impressive for a smaller bank like Rothschild.
Comparison with Other Banks
For comparison, Barclays, a larger bank, employs around 1,500 MRTs in its investment bank and pays them an average of £1.5m ($2m) annually. Additionally, Barclays has approximately 700 employees earning over €1m.
Overall, while Rothschild may not offer the highest compensation for investment banking MRTs, its asset management division presents a lucrative opportunity for those seeking substantial financial rewards within the firm.
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