This is in contrast to functioning democracies where even heads of state earn a relatively meager salary.
Singapore, arguably the best functioning democracy in the world, pays its head of state millions of dollars.. I realise this is probably still not enough.
The Economist lists Singapore as a hybrid regime with elements of authoritarianism and democracy. It ranks in its democracy index below Malaysia and Indonesia. Thus I do not think it is 'arguably the best functioning democracy in the world'.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post, even in Discussion, it goes here.