I am also troubled with this CEO compensation issue.  But it's more than just ceo's in America.  Sports players can make unbelievable salaries--$10--12 million per year for baseball pitchers, and far higher in other situations, basketball for example--I think soccer too, outside the US.  Then actors and directors can make incredible money.  At least with sports, though it seems egregious, it's fairly clear to the public that the players are truely exceptional.  I think it''s less clear to the public for CEO's that they are far outperfoming others,,,,perhaps with the exception of Jack Welch and Lou Gerstner who turned around IBM in the mid-'90's--but most CEO's are only known in their industry, or maybe even in their company.  and there are some horrible payouts at times with these "golden" parachutes.  I'm just not clear as to how to fix this.  Attempts made in the past have backfired--good intentions and unexpected results.