This Market Business News information article provides a list of the best paid CEOs in the US.
The article contains information on how much the top paid CEOs earn, what companies they work for, their experience and education, as well as other additional information.
The following ranking was compiled using data gathered by The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
It should be noted that for most of these CEOs it is not their actually salaries that account for most of their earnings, but the bonuses, stock options, and equity stakes that they receive.
Below is a list of the best paid CEOs:
1. Lawrence J. Ellison
Company: Oracle Group
Compensation: 96,160,696 USD (2012)
Education: University of Illinois (dropped out) and University of Chicago (dropped out)
Nationality: American
Additional information: Lawrence Ellison has been the CEO of Oracle Corporation since he founded the company in 1977. According to a 2013 Forbes report, Lawrence Ellison is currently the third richest man in the US.
2. Elon Musk
Company: Tesla Motors Inc.
Compensation: 78,150,010 USD (2012)
Education: Queen’s University, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Nationality: American, Canadian, South African
Additional information: South-African born Elon Musk co-founded Tesla Motors along with Marc Tarpenning, Martin Eberhard, Ian Wright, and JB Straubel. Esquire magazine listed Musk as one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century.
3. Mario J. Gabelli
Company: Gamco Investors Inc.
Compensation: 68,970,486 USD (2012)
Education: Fordham University and Columbia Business School
Nationality: American
Additional information: Mario Gabelli is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Gabelli Asset Management Company Investors (GAMCO Investors). The $30 billion global investment firm he runs is located in New York.
4. Robert A. Kotick
Company: Activision Blizzard Inc.
Compensation: 64,942,306 USD (2012)
Education: University of Michigan (dropped out)
Nationality: American
Additional information: Not only is Robert Kotick the CEO, president, and a director of Activision Blizzard, since February 2012 he has also served as a director of The Coca-Cola Company.
5. Leslie Moonves
Company: CBS Corp.
Compensation: 62,157,026 USD (2012)
Education: Bucknell University
Nationality: American
Additional information: Leslie Moonves is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation. He was previously the co-chief operating officer of Viacom, Inc. from 2004 until the company dissolved in 2005.
6. Charif Souki
Company: Cheniere Energy Inc.
Compensation: 57,518,332 USD (2012)
Education: Colgate University and Columbia University
Nationality: Lebanese, American
Additional information: Charif Souki is the co-founder of Cheniere. He currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Cheniere. Charif Souki has experience in investment banking and the oil and gas industry.
7. Brett A. Roberts
Company: Credit Acceptance Corp.
Compensation: 54,282,500 USD (2012)
Nationality: American
Additional information: Mr. Roberts first joined Credit Acceptance Corp. in 1991 as corporate controller. He became the Chief Executive Officer of the company in January 2002.
8. John H. Hammergren
Company: McKesson Group
Compensation: 51,744,999 USD (2013)
Education: University of Minnesota and Xavier University
Nationality: American
Additional information: John Hammergren was elected President and CEO of McKesson 2001. In 2002 he was elected Chairman. Under Mr. Hemmergrens charge McKesson has become the leading provider of healthcare services and information technology solutions.
9. David M. Zaslav
Company: Discovery Communications Inc.
Compensation: 49,932,867 USD (2012)
Education: Binghamton University and Boston University School of Law
Nationality: American
Additional information: David Zaslav was an executive at NBC Universal before becoming the President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Communications, a position he has held in the company since 2007.
10. Richard M. Bracken
Company: HCA Holdings Inc.
Compensation: 46,359,246 USD (2012)
Education: San Diego State University and the Medical College of Virginia
Nationality: American
Additional information: Richard Bracken currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Corporation of America – one of the world’s biggest private healthcare providers.