The above graphic, by Dee Adams, shows the eight CEOs with the highest compensations in the US for the year 2008. It also shows the number of minimum wage earners that each respective CEO’s compensation could have supported (see the image of a man below ceo’s feet). Bruce Wasserstein of Lazard ltd. was the top earner at $133 million, or the annual salary of 8,866 minimum wage earners.
I wouldn’t say it’s not fair because some of the CEOs do deserve large sum of money for leading and managing large corporations successfully. But how much exactly they should get as a compensation for their work is always questionable.
source good magazine via flowing data
wow, it huge, wonder why steve jobs only ask for $1 for salary.
wow. I wonder if i can become CEO too..or not.
My CEO was not in the list, haha. Ya, sometimes is a big question on how the compensation works. Most CEO receive stock option as compensation and not their salary.
Excessive remains excessive, no matter how you parcel it! Kudos to the individuals for having reached the absolute pinnacle of potential career earnings, but at what cost elsewhewre?
That’s an interesting chart. Another factor to consider is this: most of the top-paid CEO benefited from a compensation structure that rewarded great results and punished bad results. In other words, these CEOs took a risk, where there compensation was largely based on performance. These particular companies did well. However, many CEOs under such plans do not receive large bonuses because their companies did not do well.
Ludicrous how much they make… but I guess energy & investment firms is where the moneys at!
-Jack
Whoa, I just read that Bruce Wasserstein passed away last week. I wonder who will be the new #1 earning CEO.
I agree with Minnesota Attorney. There is usually more to the story. Even if you took away ALL of the money from the top 8 ceos, it’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the wasteful spending the new administration has implemented.
These particular companies did well. However, many CEOs under such plans do not receive large bonuses because their companies did not do well.
Really amazing. Their compensation are really very big.
We should have to learn lots from them about their success.
did Bruce Wasserstein made 133.708.000 $ ?
it is not that too much ?
SEO’s really rocking.
I think publicly owned companies own companies and private companies should be held to different stands when it comes to ceo compensation plans. Publicly own companies should have a max revenue ceiling for their ceo’s since it owned by shared holders instead of by a group of private individuals.
wow that is huge man. it’s like my salary is just nothing to them LOL
It’s interesting to see which companies are doing well in this economy. Many of the popular companies, which did well when the economy was doing well, are missing from this list.
I don’t have a problem with them earning that kind of money unless they accepted bailout money. And even then, it depends on whether or not their pay is performance based. I think it’s kinda hard to make one-size-fits-all rule on this. If I’m a shareholder, I want the best person possible to be leading the company and money talks.
Such as which companies, Mr Minnesota?
-Jack
Hey Ades,
I liked the graphic first of all of this post. The compensation is really a determining factor.
This insight about the US CEO’s is really informative. Thanks for sharing it.
Have you ever heard that 14 years guy from India became CEO for a company? and his company is in 14places through out the world..
Thats really amazing point..
Honestly,that much amount is enough for me survive for annum :D LOL
omygod.This is really an huge amount.Thats more than enough for my one year living.
Almost whole companies depends on SEO. So,i can say most SEO companies make big amount than Coding companies.
Hahaha, yes, I think most people could get by on that much for a year. It might be a bit of a struggle, but…. lol
I’m CEO of my company, when do I get mine?
Bruce Wasserstein was a very successful CEO. I said “was” because I just read that he passed the way on October 14 2009 at the age of 61 years old.
In September 17 2008 Bruce Wasserstein’s net worth was estimated about $2.3 billion; according to Forbes.
Too bad to hear about Wasserstein. Wonder what, if any, good things he did with his money while he was alive.
What is hopefully going to change is that these types of compensation levels will be held back for several years. These CEOs received big money based on results (bonus program) but some boards are now saying you’ll get your bonus three or more years down the road so we can figure out if these deals actually were any good.
Oh, that’s an interesting concept. As long as it doesn’t involve big brother spreading the wealth. I hate just that. We are, after all, still capitalist.
We must have to follow their guideline how they success on their life. As a full time blogger I try to learn every time when I blogging.
Whoa… that is ALOTTTTTTTTT money =D Most people don’t even make that in a lifetime, and these guys make it in one year, lol.
Till then,
Jean
Agree, i dont think that i will earn that in my lifetime too! How they are so successful?
133 Million is very high for a CEO…
This is amazing news. The Top 8 guys have contributed great to the GDP of US. In my country India we have guys like Azim Premji, Tata, Reliance ambani, and Lakhmi mittal. They too earn tonns of money.
Sorry but there is no way a CEO deserves $113 million for 1 year of work. That is just a ridiculous number. I’m sure he does a great job at his job, but not 8000+ times better than the janitor at his office.
500 biggest companies in the U.S. (as measured by a composite ranking of sales, profits, assets and market value) took a pay cut of 15% last year. The last time the big bosses took a pay hit was in 2002. In total, these 500 executives earned $6.4 billion in 2007, an average of $12.8 million apiece