Executive compensation refers to the payments – both financial and otherwise – executives receive for their services. Executive compensation is generally a mix of salary, performance-based bonuses (which may be in cash, shares, or call options), and benefits.
Since the 1980's, executive compensation in the US has soared relative to workers' wages. CEO-to-worker compensation increased frmo 20-to-1 in 1965 to 278-to-1 in 2018. From 1978 - 2018, CEO compensation increased by 940% while average worker wages grew only 11.9%.