Based on the data of CSMAR from 2003 to 2018, this paper investigates the effect and mechanism of globalization on executive compensation from the perspective of FDI inflow. The results show that globalization has a significant promoting effect on executive compensation. After considering endogenous issues and controlling the impact of other policies in the same period，the results are robust. Furthermore，this paper found that globalization mainly affects executive compensation through independent director governance, and the role of market mechanisms is limited. Extended research also found that the role of globalization on executive compensation is heterogeneous. Globalization has a greater impact in monopolistic industries and state-owned enterprises. Power executives benefit more from globalization than ordinary executives, which means that as globalization progresses, inequality among executives within the company is increasing. The findings of this paper provide Chinese evidence on the positive impact of globalization on executive compensation, and help enrich the literature in the field of international trade and top income distribution.