In 2006 it was reported that Google paid its top three executives a salary of just $1. Continuing with that trend, Google's top three executives, co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin will take home $1 per year along with CEO Eric Schmidt.
If you think that's cruel, think again. These executives are not your ordinary employees: They run one of the most successful businesses in the world.
The idea of paying the top three executives a mere $1 came about before Google planned to offer an Initial public offering (IPO), common stock or shares to the public. Prior to 2004,
Schmidt was making $250,000 USD per year, and Page and Brin each earned a salary of $150,000 USD.
In 2006, it was reported that the combined share value of the three execs totalled $31 billion. In 2007,
Forbes reported that Brin and Page were tied for the No. 5 spot on America's list of billionaires (each having a net worth of about $18.5 billion USD)
In 2008, Page and Brin were in the No. 13 and No. 14 spot on the
Forbes 400 Richest Americans list.
