NY Times botched its analysis by counting all Cook’s stock options vesting over the next ten years as if it were a single year’s compensation.  Nevertheless, even when calculated correctly, and taking into account the difference in cost of living between the US and China, Cook, like many of today’s executives of large companies makes an obscene amount of money compared to the average worker.  This imbalance has been steadily growing over the last few decades.

Even executives of companies that are being run into the ground have obtained absurd compensation.  They often walk away from failed companies with huge severance packages.

By all accounts, Tim Cook is a very disciplined, dedicated, hardworking, and intelligent person who deserves plenty of credit for Apple’s continuing success.  But in my opinion, no executive should be paid more than about ten times that of the average employee. Even limiting the proportion to 100:1 would be improvement of the incredible disparity that is common these days.

Corporations are out of control. The boards of directors (who are themselves executives of other companies) are not going to stop the salary inflation. We need government regulation or shareholder revolt. Good luck with that.