Rich Rewards for the Corporate Elite

It pays, more than ever, to be at the top. The median total compensation for the 100 highest-paid executives in The Washington Post's annual survey of executive pay was $5.25 million in 2004, up slightly from $5.13 million the year before.

• On Top of It All, Gigantic Pensions

Negotiated individually, retirement packages for in the tens of millions of dollars are common for top executives, as are many other retirement benefits

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• A Popular Reward: Restricted Stock

As stock options become costlier and more controversial for companies, another form of executive compensation is gaining favor -- and drawing criticism.

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• A Closer Look at Costs of the Corporate Jet

Some of America's largest corporations have been underreporting the cost of letting their executives use company aircraft on personal trips, a pattern that has come to light through reports filed with the SEC.

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Transcript

Executive Compensation Report

Staff writers David Hilzenrath and Terence O'Hara were online to discuss The Post's annual report on executive compenation at Washington-area companies.

• Full Report

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Jerry Knight: Washington Investing

Share Prices Fall, But Pay Goes Up

Pay for performance. What a great idea. Too bad the executive compensation system so rarely works that way.

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The Post 200

New Reporting Law Tests Firms

It's all in the numbers when it comes to ranking the Washington area's top companies. But this year, area companies -- and their frazzled accountants -- have had a remarkably hard time saying just what their financial numbers are.

• What Is the Post 200?

• Alphabetical Index of Companies

• Industry Highlights

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