Discovery's Zaslav, Disney's Iger among highest paid CEOs

This photo combination shows the highest-paid CEOs at big U.S. companies for 2018, as calculated by The Associated Press and Equilar, an executive data firm. Top row, from left: David Zaslav, Discovery, $129.5 million; Robert Iger, Walt Disney, $65.6 million; Stephen MacMillan, Hologic, $42 million; and Joseph Hogan, Align Technology, $41.8 million; and Daniel Schulman, PayPal, $37.8 million. Bottom row, from left: Reed Hastings, Netflix, $36.1 million; Brian Roberts, Comcast, $35 million; Robert Kotick, Activision Blizzard, $30.8 million; and James Dimon, JPMorgan Chase, $30 million. (AP Photo)

Here are the highest paid CEOs in the S&P 500 index for 2018, as calculated by The Associated Press and Equilar, an executive data firm.

The AP's compensation study covered 340 executives at S&P 500 companies who have served at least two full consecutive fiscal years at their respective companies, which filed proxy statements between Jan. 1 and April 30. Some companies with highly paid CEOs do not fit these criteria.

Pay for chief executives rose to a median of $12 million last year, including salary, stock and other compensation. Median means half were larger, and half were smaller.

Compensation often includes stock and option grants that the CEO may not receive for years unless certain performance measures are met. For some companies, big raises occur when CEOs get a stock or option grant in one year as part of a multi-year grant.

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1. David Zaslav

Discovery

$129.5 million

Change from last year: 207%

His pay vs typical company worker: 1,511 times, up from 522

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2. Robert Iger

Walt Disney

$65.6 million

Change from last year: 81%

His pay vs typical company worker: 1,424 times

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3. Richard Handler

Jefferies Financial Group

$44.7 million

Change from last year: 105%

His pay vs typical company worker: 298 times, down from 489

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4. Stephen MacMillan

Hologic

$42 million

Change from last year: 275%

His pay vs typical company worker: 478 times

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5. Joseph Hogan

Align Technology

$41.8 million

Change from last year: 256%

His pay vs typical company worker: 3,168 times, up from 920

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6. Daniel Schulman

PayPal

$37.8 million.

Change from last year: 96%

His pay vs typical company worker: 543 times, up from 274

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7. Reed Hastings

Netflix

$36.1 million

Change from last year: 48%

His pay vs typical company worker: 178 times, up from 133

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8. Brian Roberts

Comcast

$35 million

Change from last year: 8%

His pay vs typical company worker: 426 times, down from 458

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9. Robert Kotick

Activision Blizzard

$30.8 million

Change from last year: 7%

His pay vs typical company worker: 319 times, up from 306

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10. James Dimon

JPMorgan Chase

$30 million

Change from last year: 6%

His pay vs typical company worker: 381 times, up from 364