These people are making too much money, I can see a revolution brewing. Actually that's how the Russian revolution exploded. The peasants, me included, are fed up with eating black bread and watered down cider while the few at the top gorge themelves on caviar and champagne. 

The basis upon which these CEO's qualify for such outrageous bonuses needs to be looked at in a critical manner. Too often they are based upon share price which can, and has in the past, raised a conflict of interest.

The stock markets tends to react farourably to a reduction in the work force of a company. The share price rises the CEO's bonus increases. The point being that the reduction in the work force may not actually be in the company's best interests but it certainly is in the CEO's.

An example of this happened in the U.S. years ago when Chrysler Corporation got this hotshot CEO who earned huge bonuses because the share price increased so much due to the staff reductions he instigated. He was head hunted by another company before reality set in and Chrysler almost went to the wall because of the damage done to them. He did at his next company as well before people woke up to what was really happening. 

Bonuses can. and often do, distort the emphasis applied to running a company. Shareholders generally want a decent return but above all want security of their investment. Qantas for example are losing customers and I wonder why?

Be interesting to compare these figures against the profitability (or otherwise) of the companies they manage, as well as reviewing the fundamentals of these companies (customer and employee satisfaction etc)

I agree with anyone who says CEO salaries are outrageous. The myth behind this is, CEOs need high pay in order to motivate them. Well, in my opinion if a person is largely motivated by a huge salary, then they are there only for the money. I would like to see how it really benefits shareholdlers. Besides a CEO does not do all the work himself/herself..there are Board members who do a fair share.

In some companies, the CEO also serves as Chairman..good work if you can get it because executive pay is decided by a Corporate Board. What that means is the CEO/Chairman votes on their own salary..clearly this is a conflict of interest.

According to the Global CEO index these countries have the highest paid CEOs .. US, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong and Singapore.

I knew this subject would be raised. I saw the news report on this a couple of nights ago on the tv, and I thought then, somebodies got to get it so why not him.

I bare no envy toward him and hope it brings him happiness. I shall continue with my life and leave him in peace to his.

Perhaps we are targetting the wrong people. For a start, a lot of CEO's are headhunted and offers are made to attract them to a company because of their track record. Contracts are written and accepted and are usually based on performance with a bonus offered when budgets are exceeded. Sure, we already know all of this but the question is, who draws up the contract. It's the legal people at the request of the Board, not the CEO, so any remuneration that us poor people think is excessive is because the Board made a mistake, not the CEO for agreeing to a contract.

Really - just how much money do you NEED to live comfortably on? Nearly 24 MILLION a year? - ludicrous!

I would love to know how much - if any - of these CEO's tax is paid? I can guarantee very little. They can afford to set up trusts and pay accountants/solicitors to reduce any liability. 

I can't remember where I saw/heard/read, but was said that CEO's salary's should be no more than 8 times the salary of the lowest paid employee in the company. AT THE MOST - no more than 10 times.  So if lowest Qantas staff are on $50,000 (and that is being generous) - then $5 million would be ample. Nearly $24 million? - sickening, obscene and disgusting.

What is really outrages is the envy of people when they learn that other people make millions from honest management of corporations. It's shareholder's business, not the outside public's. If shareholders don't like it because they want more in dividents for themselves then they can vote on the issue at AGMs.  These CEOs pay their tax on the income they earn and if the majority of the income is from bonuses by way of company fully franked shares then the corporations pay tax.  So any public outrage is just sheer immature envy. Go get a life people!!!!