In the small world of big CEOs, the perks can be spectacular.
Drivers, country-club memberships, use of company aircraft — those splashy extras are fairly routine. And so are less-splashy extras, with companies often shouldering the cost for the boss’ personal financial planning or annual physical.
All those come on top of the CEO’s paycheck. Counting salary, stock awards and other types of compensation, the typical CEO of a big public company was paid a median $9.6 million last year, according to an Associated Press analysis.
That included $161,337 worth of perks and other personal benefits, up 2 percent from the year before. Overall pay was up 6 percent.
Equilar, an executive-compensation data company, recently calculated CEO pay data for AP by examining the 322 companies on the S&P 500 that had filed the relevant regulatory disclosures by April 30.
Equilar looked only at companies that had the same CEO for at least two years. In regulatory filings, companies include perks in a category called “all other compensation.” That category also includes other personal benefits that companies don’t classify as perks, such as contributions to the executives’ savings plans.
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia spent $73,230 on a weekend driver for its eponymous founder.
Wynn Resorts spent $910,345 letting CEO Stephen Wynn use a company plane for personal travel. It also gave up $503,831 by keeping a suite at the Las Vegas resort constantly reserved for him.
$9.6million
Median compensation for U.S. chief executives in 2011, up 6 percent from 2010
$161,337
Value of perks and other benefits, up 2 percent
