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Reasons why CEO's make millions and I don't: - Business Network: If I had a billion dollars, I would never have been able to acquire Instagram. I wouldn't even

Reasons why CEO's make millions and I don't: - Business Network: If I had a billion dollars, I would never have been able to acquire Instagram. I wouldn't even be able to get a seat at the table. Zuckerberg closed it in record time while talking to a company that wanted to be on it's own - Market Knowledge: I thought the iPad was the stupidest device ever, Steve Jobs didn't. I now have 4 at my house along with two of those stupid iWatches (actually they're pretty nice) - Portfolio: Marissa Mayer wasn't paid what she was paid because the board expected her to perform well, she was paid her salary (and golden parachute) because the company was dying and they had no idea what to do. Mayer had an idea of something that might work, but why on earth would she risk her awesome résumé with taking on the risk of a company on it's last leg? - Access: If my daughter has a birthday, I can schedule an early day to be home and celebrate with the family. When Steve Jobs came down with cancer, he was required to disclose his medical details publicly because of the fiscal impact it could have on the public stock - Job Market: I'm a programmer. There are jobs everywhere for me. If the CEO of Uber loses his job (fingers crossed), it might be a looong time before he finds a new one and even then it's not likely to be remotely similar to what he does now. I mean shoot everyone loves Gabe Newell, but if he lost his job, what are his options? Not as many as me. Look, I'm not saying that some CEO's pay isn't exaggerated. I'm just saying that I'm not worth nearly as much as a talented CEO. If the company your 401k/pension was invested in hired me as CEO, you better believe you'd grab your pitchfork.

CountSessine 9y ago
The Marissa Mayer one is the one that really stands out to me. A lot of people seem to think that she was brought in to save Yahoo; no one on the inside was thinking that. Everyone understood that Yahoo was hopeless and they were headed for a sudden collapse. Mayer was brought in to rescue whatever shareholder value she could and as long as shareholders got something back they would be willing to split some of it with her.
- yuhong 9y ago
  Part of the problem is that it took way too long for someone like her to be the CEO.
  - cbsmith 9y ago
    Shareholder value went up very quickly after she came on board.
- yeukhon 9y ago
  Interesting. But I think she might have a different agenda wven if she did have such verbal mutual understanding with the board. For someone like her becoming CEO becoming a savior is important. She probably eventually pushed her technical agenda wanted to save the company and make profits so she can stay there long.
majewsky 9y ago
> - Job Market: I'm a programmer. There are jobs everywhere for me. If the CEO of Uber loses his job (fingers crossed), it might be a looong time before he finds a new one and even then it's not likely to be remotely similar to what he does now. I mean shoot everyone loves Gabe Newell, but if he lost his job, what are his options? Not as many as me. I would assume that people in such positions (i.e. people who are thinking about long-term strategic decisions nearly all day long) have some ideas in store for what they could do after their current gig. And they have the wealth to get their next company off the ground more easily.
- JoeCortopassi 9y ago
  They may have _ideas_ of what can be next, but the job market is orders of magnitude smaller at that level As far as having the wealth to get their next venture off the ground, that's part of the negotiation. They know if they leave the company, it will take X days to find a new position or Y amount of money to start that idea they have. I do the same thing when taking a job (i.e. Can I save for a rainy day?)
- tertius 9y ago
  The market is smaller yes, but the talent pool is also smaller.
sorenjan 9y ago
I think you're forgetting the most important reason: - The board members and CEOs are all part of the same club and is looking out for each other.
- JoeCortopassi 9y ago
  Yes, networks are beneficial in attaining any job, but the caricature you posit is a farce
  - russdpale 9y ago
    No its not, its like that for many companies and job industries. In America, it is about who you know, not what you know.. We all know this.
  - H1Supreme 9y ago
    Nope. Just look at the amount of boards CEO's of different companies sit on. It's staggering.
- rhizome 9y ago
  "The goal of business is to keep your buddies working, even if they're fuckin' idiots." --Roseanne Barr
lelandbatey 9y ago
Total side note, but I do want to note: Gabe Newell can't lose his job unless Valve Software fails entirely, since Valve is a privately owned company. He and Mike Harrington pretty much own the company outright. And given that Valve had ~2.5 Billion in equity in 2012[0], I don't think Valve is in any danger of going away. [0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation#cite_note-1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation#cite_note-1
- JoeCortopassi 9y ago
  Gabe might not get fired, but his job most certainly can disappear
- ralfd 9y ago
  Small addition: This article says Newell bought Harrington out when he left in 2000. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newell-videogames-valve-online-mayhem.html https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newe...
jernfrost 9y ago
But this competition over who is most valuable in the world or in a company is rather futile. Who matters more, the doctor who saves the lives of 4 talented CEOs or the CEOs themelves? What about the teacher or professor who unlocked the talent of say 10 future world leaders, but still gets a measly salary? What about the scientist who makes an invention or discovery which changes all of society? There are plenty of people with profound influence on society but who get very little compensation for it, because they don't sit close to and control the money bag. I think it is time we stop worshiping CEOs and accept that they are not these indispensable Gods. They are like any other talented professional.
stupidhn 9y ago
>I mean shoot everyone loves Gabe Newell, but if he lost his job, what are his options? Not as many as me. You don't honestly believe this, do you? Everyone here likes to rip on the "Business Guys", but despite what you may have heard, they aren't skilless. Gabe would have a new job tomorrow.
undersuit 9y ago
>When Steve Jobs came down with cancer, he was required to disclose his medical details publicly because of the fiscal impact it could have on the public stock Yeah that's why he waited 9 months and after his surgery to announce it. "there's no specific obligation under the federal securities laws to disclose the health condition of executives." http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-sick-executives-20160204-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-sick-executives-201...

CountSessine 9y ago

The Marissa Mayer one is the one that really stands out to me. A lot of people seem to think that she was brought in to save Yahoo; no one on the inside was thinking that. Everyone understood that Yahoo was hopeless and they were headed for a sudden collapse. Mayer was brought in to rescue whatever shareholder value she could and as long as shareholders got something back they would be willing to split some of it with her.

yuhong 9y ago
Part of the problem is that it took way too long for someone like her to be the CEO.
- cbsmith 9y ago
  Shareholder value went up very quickly after she came on board.
yeukhon 9y ago
Interesting. But I think she might have a different agenda wven if she did have such verbal mutual understanding with the board. For someone like her becoming CEO becoming a savior is important. She probably eventually pushed her technical agenda wanted to save the company and make profits so she can stay there long.

majewsky 9y ago

> - Job Market: I'm a programmer. There are jobs everywhere for me. If the CEO of Uber loses his job (fingers crossed), it might be a looong time before he finds a new one and even then it's not likely to be remotely similar to what he does now. I mean shoot everyone loves Gabe Newell, but if he lost his job, what are his options? Not as many as me. I would assume that people in such positions (i.e. people who are thinking about long-term strategic decisions nearly all day long) have some ideas in store for what they could do after their current gig. And they have the wealth to get their next company off the ground more easily.

JoeCortopassi 9y ago
They may have _ideas_ of what can be next, but the job market is orders of magnitude smaller at that level As far as having the wealth to get their next venture off the ground, that's part of the negotiation. They know if they leave the company, it will take X days to find a new position or Y amount of money to start that idea they have. I do the same thing when taking a job (i.e. Can I save for a rainy day?)
tertius 9y ago
The market is smaller yes, but the talent pool is also smaller.

sorenjan 9y ago

I think you're forgetting the most important reason: - The board members and CEOs are all part of the same club and is looking out for each other.

JoeCortopassi 9y ago
Yes, networks are beneficial in attaining any job, but the caricature you posit is a farce
- russdpale 9y ago
  No its not, its like that for many companies and job industries. In America, it is about who you know, not what you know.. We all know this.
- H1Supreme 9y ago
  Nope. Just look at the amount of boards CEO's of different companies sit on. It's staggering.
rhizome 9y ago
"The goal of business is to keep your buddies working, even if they're fuckin' idiots." --Roseanne Barr

lelandbatey 9y ago

Total side note, but I do want to note: Gabe Newell can't lose his job unless Valve Software fails entirely, since Valve is a privately owned company. He and Mike Harrington pretty much own the company outright. And given that Valve had ~2.5 Billion in equity in 2012[0], I don't think Valve is in any danger of going away. [0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation#cite_note-1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation#cite_note-1

JoeCortopassi 9y ago
Gabe might not get fired, but his job most certainly can disappear
ralfd 9y ago
Small addition: This article says Newell bought Harrington out when he left in 2000. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newell-videogames-valve-online-mayhem.html https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newe...

jernfrost 9y ago

But this competition over who is most valuable in the world or in a company is rather futile. Who matters more, the doctor who saves the lives of 4 talented CEOs or the CEOs themelves? What about the teacher or professor who unlocked the talent of say 10 future world leaders, but still gets a measly salary? What about the scientist who makes an invention or discovery which changes all of society? There are plenty of people with profound influence on society but who get very little compensation for it, because they don't sit close to and control the money bag. I think it is time we stop worshiping CEOs and accept that they are not these indispensable Gods. They are like any other talented professional.

stupidhn 9y ago

>I mean shoot everyone loves Gabe Newell, but if he lost his job, what are his options? Not as many as me. You don't honestly believe this, do you? Everyone here likes to rip on the "Business Guys", but despite what you may have heard, they aren't skilless. Gabe would have a new job tomorrow.

undersuit 9y ago

>When Steve Jobs came down with cancer, he was required to disclose his medical details publicly because of the fiscal impact it could have on the public stock Yeah that's why he waited 9 months and after his surgery to announce it. "there's no specific obligation under the federal securities laws to disclose the health condition of executives." http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-sick-executives-20160204-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-sick-executives-201...