50 highest-paid CEOs in the Carolinas.

Wachovia's ex-boss, Ken Thompson, was ousted in June but still came in second on the list; much of his $17 million in compensation came in grants of stock given "for his performance in 2006 and prior years."

In 2006, Thompson's Wachovia bought Golden West in what might have been the worst acquisition in the history of American business.

Comments

[Frank]

Looks like Bruton Smith has him a couple of good paying part-time jobs: He's on there twice, at 1.8 million and 2.6 million. I'm not nearly as offended when someone makes a bunch of money from a business he or she started as I am when some guy takes a solid company, runs it into the ground and floats away on his parachute, so I say good for you, Bruton. Also, you don't want to tangle with a guy named "Bruton."

[Tony Plutonium]

Of course this is only publicly-traded companies - wonder where Goodnight at SAS and Dr. Gillings at Quintiles (both companies that continue to do well) and the heads of some of the other big private companies in NC would fit in.