Tax payments are a matter of public record in Finland, and each year the Finnish Tax Administration unveils a list of the country’s top earners.
In a tradition fondly known among Finns as “tax day,” or perhaps more aptly, “envy day,” the Tax Administration published its annual report on Wednesday morning. This year, the spotlight shines on individuals who earned over 120,000 euros in taxable income last year.
Once again, Mikko “Miki” Kuusi, the co-founder of the popular delivery service Wolt, takes the lead as Finland’s highest income earner and top taxpayer. This marks a remarkable third consecutive year Kuusi has topped the charts, having previously led in both 2022 and 2023.
The top five earners for 2024 are as follows:
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Mikko Kuusi – Income: 80.6 million euros. Kuusi, also serving as the chair of Wolt’s board, has seen his earnings primarily stem from a stock incentive program linked to the substantial 2021 acquisition of Wolt by the American company, DoorDash. In addition to his role at Wolt, he is currently the CEO of Deliveroo, which was recently bought by the same parent company.
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Heikki Herlin – Income: 39.3 million euros. Herlin heads the logistics firm Cargotec and also chairs the investment company Marietorp, in addition to serving on the board of Alma Media. He is the son of the late Niklas Herlin, a renowned investor in Finland.
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Matti Kalervo Häll – Income: 30.8 million euros. The founder of software company Admicom, Häll has enjoyed substantial success in the stock market, selling his stake in the company last year.
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Leif Niklas Sonkin – Income: 26.8 million euros. As CEO of Accountor Holding, a financial administration firm, Sonkin oversaw its sale in two parts to companies in Sweden and the U.S. this past summer, with the company’s valuation reportedly exceeding 1.2 billion euros.
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Rob Blauwgeers – Income: 26.4 million euros. Blauwgeers is the CEO and co-founder of Bluefors, a technology company specializing in cooling systems for quantum computers.
Why Yle Publishes Tax Data
The tradition of disclosing tax information in Finland holds significant weight, with many citizens viewing it as a cornerstone of their open society. However, opinions are mixed. A survey from last year conducted by business lobby Eva revealed that a significant portion of the public sees the annual tax disclosures as little more than a media spectacle.
So, why does Yle choose to publish these tax figures?
Kristiina Tolvanen, head of Yle’s Politics and Economics desk, outlines three main reasons.
First, Yle aims to spark meaningful dialogue around tax-related issues in Finnish society, using these figures to facilitate discussions on the fairness of the taxation system and its broader implications.
Second, the media has a crucial role as a public watchdog. By making tax data available, Yle helps the public stay informed about who is amassing wealth in Finland and how that wealth is being generated. This transparency also allows for examination of the distribution of the tax burden across society.
Finally, Tolvanen emphasizes that transparency in tax information fosters trust within society. Fair tax collection and the responsible use of tax funds form the bedrock of Finland’s welfare state, making open access to financial data essential for a functioning democracy.