The good news for those whose compensation made our top 10 rankings: big paychecks, which means that they are at the top of their games, highly valued for what they bring or brought to the corporate table.

The downside, of course, is that when you are among the five highest-paid executives at a public company, the details of how you are compensated-right down to the company car, set-asides and other perks-also is public.