> how does someone with so much money (say a board of directors) ever decide to pay someone that much Most of the board will be executives in other companies;

> how does someone with so much money (say a board of directors) ever decide to pay someone that much Most of the board will be executives in other companies; by voting high the salary of the CEO, they're nudging the average which benefits them when wearing their executive hat. In the UK I have money in two Building Societies ( mutual banks ) and each year the members vote on candidates for the Board. It's amazing how many of them hold three or more different board positions and a couple of executive slots.