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CEO pay: a look at the Top 5 breadwinners

CEOs at the biggest public companies in the US saw a raise in pay in 2010. The fourth annual analysis by the Wall Street Journal and the Hay Group, a management-consulting firm, shows that the median value of compensation of CEOs at the top 350 companies rose 11 percent, to $9.3 million. Only two of the Top 5 highest-paid CEOs were among the Top 5 the previous year, and only one was on the list four years ago. Total compensation includes salary, bonuses, granted value of stock, stock options, and other long-term incentives awarded for work.

5. Michael White, DirecTV – $32.6 million

Bebeto Matthews / AP / File
In this May 7, 2010 file photo, DirecTV CEO Michael White reacts during an interview in New York. DirecTV Group Inc., the nation's largest satellite TV operator, said Thursday, May 5, 2011, net income rose 21 percent in the first quarter as it continued to grow faster than smaller competitor Dish Network.

  • By Mary Helen Miller Correspondent

Michael White has been president of the El Segundo, Calif., based company just since Jan. 2010. The former CEO of the satellite-TV provider, Larry Hunter, made only $4.8 million in 2009. The company is expanding – in the first quarter this year, it added 184,000 net new US customers and 427,000 in Latin America. Mr. White has also served as the CEO of PepsiCo International and Frito-Lay’s Europe/Africa/Middle East division, and he is a director of Whirlpool Corp.

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