---
title: The 10 Highest Paid CEOs & How They Got There
description: The men and women who made the list of 2016's top 10 highest paid CEOs come from a variety of backgrounds. Here's a guide to how they got to where they are now.
---

[Steppingblocks | Stories, Trends & News ](https://blog.steppingblocks.com)

# [The 10 Highest Paid CEOs & How They Got There](https://blog.steppingblocks.com/the-10-highest-paid-ceos-how-they-got-there)

 Written by [Matt Stephens](https://blog.steppingblocks.com/author/matt-stephens) | October 20, 2017 8:09:40 AM Z

Have you ever wondered how America's highest earners got their dream jobs? You might imagine that these millionaire CEOs have always lived a life of luxury, but in fact they worked hard over long careers to earn their lucrative positions.

The men and women who made the list of 2016's [top 10 highest paid CEOs](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/26/business/highest-paid-ceos.html?mcubz%3D3&sa=D&ust=1506690527263000&usg=AFQjCNGn3YSEjz2MYZ8-eSELmbO4C1EsaA) come from a variety of backgrounds, from studying at law school to starting out in the mailroom. Here's a guide to how they got to where they are today, and some inspiration for how you could follow in their footsteps.

## **1. Tom Rutledge, Charter Communications**

### Total earnings: $98 million

Salary: $2 million

Bonus: $7.7 million

Stock: $10 million

Options: $78 million

### Previous roles:

COO, Cablevision

President, Time Warner Cable

Unknown role, American Television and Communications

### Education:

B.A. in Economics, California University of Pennsylvania, 1977

[Job opportunities at Charter Communications](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://jobs.spectrum.com/&sa=D&ust=1506690527265000&usg=AFQjCNGvmkNHTFso85YG9Vo_xN0eL6poMA)

## **2. Leslie Moonves, CBS**

### Total earnings: $68.6 million

Salary: $3.5 million

Bonus: $32 million

Stock: $31 million

### Previous roles:

Co-President and co-COO, Viacom

Director, ZeniMax Media

President, Warner Bros Television

President, Lorimar Television

Vice President of Development, Saul Ilson Productions

Development Executive, Catalina Productions

Vice President of Movies and Miniseries, 20th Century Fox Television

### Education:

Bucknell University, 1971

[Job opportunities at CBS](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://cbscorporation.jobs/&sa=D&ust=1506690527267000&usg=AFQjCNGNoqPUQtlDq64poIpO0TbmYMi7Og)

## **3. David O'Connor, Madison Square Garden (former CEO)**

### Total earnings: $54 million

Salary: $1.5 million

Bonus: $4.7 million

Stock: $47 million

### Previous roles:

Managing Partner, Creative Artists Agency

Agent, Creative Artists Agency

Mailroom, Creative Artists Agency

[Job opportunities at Madison Square Garden](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com/careers.html&sa=D&ust=1506690527268000&usg=AFQjCNFh0BtwJweN4wVj4c5oBy4LRFl9RA)

## **4. Fabrizio Freda, Estee Lauder**

### Total earnings: $47.7 million

Salary: $1.9 million

Bonus: $5.4 million

Stock: $36 million

Options: $3.4 million

### Previous roles:

Independent Director, BlackRock

President of Global Snacks Division, Procter & Gamble

Various roles in Health and Beauty Division, Procter & Gamble

Marketing and Strategic Planning Director, Gucci

### Education:

University of Naples Federico II, 1981

[Job opportunities at Estee Lauder](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.esteelauder.jobs/elc/splash.html&sa=D&ust=1506690527270000&usg=AFQjCNHUnFWwpNzKMl1FoXNRFPq5qKgDBg)

## **5. Mark Parker, Nike**

### Total earnings: $47.6 million

Salary: $1.5 million

Bonus: $7.3 million

Stock: $33.5 million

Options: $4 million

### Previous roles:

VP of Global Footwear, Nike

General Manager, Nike

Vice President, Nike

VP of Development, Nike

Footwear Designer, Nike

### Education:

Pennsylvania State University, 1977

[Job opportunities at Nike](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://jobs.nike.com/corporate&sa=D&ust=1506690527271000&usg=AFQjCNGGveDjNf6icRtPOdZjP4cP2bRA3w)

## **6. Mark Hurd, Oracle**

### Total earnings: $41.1 million

Salary: $1 million

Stock: $21 million

Options: $18 million

### Previous roles:

Chairman, CEO and President, Hewlett Packard

President and CEO, NCR Corp

Director of Marketing, NCR Corp

### Education:

BBA in Business Administration, Baylor University, 1979

[Job opportunities at Oracle](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.oracle.com/corporate/careers/index.html&sa=D&ust=1506690527273000&usg=AFQjCNEDMDR3vKJMgpb4OYspoutyaffPhw)

## **7. Bob Iger, Walt Disney**

### Total earnings: $41 million

Salary: $2.5 million

Bonus: $20 million

Stock: $8.8 million

Options: $8.4 million

### Previous roles:

President, ABC Television

President and COO, Capital Cities/ABC

Weatherman, unknown TV station

### Education:

BSc in Television and Radio, Ithaca College, 1973

[Job opportunities at Walt Disney](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://jobs.disneycareers.com/&sa=D&ust=1506690527275000&usg=AFQjCNEUVQz5Tl5i4x1Ir92SyqrEejHIBw)

## **8. Safra Catz, Oracle**

### Total earnings: $40.9 million

Salary: $1 million

Stock: $21.8 million

Options: $18.1 million

### Previous roles:

Chief Financial Offer, Oracle

Co-President, PeopleSoft

Managing Director, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette

### Education:

University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1986

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 1983

[Job opportunities at Oracle](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.oracle.com/corporate/careers/index.html&sa=D&ust=1506690527277000&usg=AFQjCNEKQy9DqCV2jZZK7Fu6O3lLhC4PpA)

## **9. David Zaslav, Discovery Communications**

### Total earnings: $37.2 million

Salary: $3 million

Bonus: $7.5 million

Stock: $15.1 million

Options: $11.1 million

### Previous roles:

President of Cable and Domestic TV and New Media Distribution, NBC Universal

Adjunct Professor, Fordham University

Attorney, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby and MacRae

### Education:

BS, State University of New York at Binghamton

JD, Boston University School of Law, 1985

[Job opportunities at Discovery Communications](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://corporate.discovery.com/careers/&sa=D&ust=1506690527279000&usg=AFQjCNGsC97STamI3cPToNxugjj5Sctf4w)

## **10. Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard**

### Total earnings: $33.1 million

Salary: $2.4 million

Bonus: $5.6 million

Stock: $25 million

### Previous roles:

Co-owner, 4Kids Entertainment

Software entrepreneur, various companies

### Education:

University of Michigan

[Job opportunities at Activision Blizzard](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.activisionblizzard.com/careers&sa=D&ust=1506690527280000&usg=AFQjCNHjGskwE-kxB-13Jykr6SB6cTiXAA)

As these success stories show, there isn't just one set route to becoming a business magnate. Some of the highest paid CEOs entered the working world straight from a prestigious university, while others started in creative roles such as shoe designing or acting. Some had an entrepreneurial start, forming their own businesses, while others worked their way to the top after years in the same company.

This proves that reaching the peak of business success is an opportunity open to everyone, no matter your background or skills. What is important is persistence, drive and determination. What connects all of these high earners is that they worked hard and made the most of every opportunity that came their way. Of course, not everyone who is ambitious and hard-working will end up on the rich list, but they will always be respected by their peers, and importantly, they will never wonder what might have happened if they had been fully committed to achieving success.

Photo by Brooke Lark on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/nMffL1zjbw4).

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