The perks of being CEO

Not just anyone can be CEO of Goldman Sachs. It's a well-paid job to be sure. A regulatory filing notes that Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein received $54.3 million in 2006, a good year for the bank. To break it down: He took in $600,000 in salary, a mere pittance, but a $27.2 million cash bonus. He also got $26.2 million in restricted stock and stock option grants. Most people are betting the stock only goes higher. The perks are pretty good too. Blankfein was given $262,000 worth of car and driver services and financial counseling services. He also received $83,000 worth of additional health insurance and pension contributions, among other things. Of course, all this is fine when things are grand. Let's hope the Goldman train keeps on rolling.  On the tricky issue of personal corporate flights, when executives bring guests, they pay for it.

For more:
- here's an AP update