I don't think that it's cynical at all to consider that. I wish people also would stop jumping all over someone just because they raise a particular possibility

I don't think that it's cynical at all to consider that. I wish people also would stop jumping all over someone just because they raise a particular possibility for consideration and debate (noting you prefaced by saying "cynical wondering" to lessen the ire of anyone who might jump on you for being cynical.) One issue though. I wonder what the tax aspect is of getting a 3 million dollar bonus and giving it away. The story says this: "The CEO of Lenovo, Yang Yuanqing, recently received a fat bonus of $3 million. Rather than stuffing that big bonus away in his own bank account, Yang Yuanqing gave it away." So by "recently received" Yang received the money. So that is a taxable event (assuming US). You can't receive money and not pay taxes on it no matter what you do with it. (Even if you throw it in the trash can it's still taxable). To answer my own question the story might leave out an important detail. That the CEO had the right to the money but said "disburse to the employees instead". That's the same thing but lacks the tax implication as the money was never received. But it would lean more toward your "cynical" view. (Good thinking by the way).