While the black swan is swimming, there are also golden parachutes flying.

A colleague told me during a coffee break how the US federal funds were supposed to be distributed among the world’s most ailing banks. I have not read the news for weeks. So I was surprised to hear that while Americans worry about job security, these bank executives were trying to reserve their slots on the $900Bn something bailout fund. Imagine just one person enjoying an enormous compensation package that can already feed hundreds of their employees and could still afford them Vegas vacations:

Bank of America: Kenneth D. Lewis (Chairman and CEO) – $24.8 million
Bank of America: Joe L. Price (Chief Financial Officer) – $6.5 million
Bank of America: Amy Woods Brinkley (Global Risk Executive) – $9.3 million
Bank of America: Barbara J. Desoer (Global Technology and Operations Executive) – $10.5 million
Bank of America: Liam E. McGee (President Global Consumer and Small Business Banking) – $12.2 million
Bank of America: Brian T. Moynihan (President of Global Corporate and Investment Banking) – $10.1 million
Bank of America: R. Eugene Taylor (Former Vice Chairman and Former President, Global Corporate and Investment Banking) – $3.3 million
Citigroup: Sir Winfried Bischoff (Chairman) – $6.1 million
Citigroup: Vikram Pandit (CEO) – $573,813
Citigroup: Gary Crittenden (Chief Financial Officer) – $19.4 million
Citigroup: Sallie Krawcheck (Chair and CEO—GWM) - $7.1 million
Citigroup: Lewis Kaden (Vice Chairman) – $6.8 million
Citigroup: Michael Klein (CEO- Global Banking) - $7.9 million
Citigroup: Stephen Volk (Vice Chairman) – $7.6 million
Citigroup: Charles Prince (Former Chairman and CEO) – $15.1 million
Goldman Sachs: Lloyd C. Blankfein (Chairman and CEO) – $70.3 million
Goldman Sachs: Gary D. Cohn (President and Chief Operating Officer) – $72.5 million
Goldman Sachs: Jon Winkelried (President and Chief Operating Officer) – $71.5 million
Goldman Sachs: David A. Viniar (Chief Financial Officer) – $58.5 million
Goldman Sachs: Edward C. Forst (Chief Administrative Officer) – $49.1 million

Source: Company proxy statements for 2007.

They have messed up the world’s economy. Why should they be rewarded with taxpayers money? Let go of those creeps.