Allen Wise - Coventry Health Care (NYSE: CVH)

Total 2009 Compensation: $17,427,789 [1]

Compensation breakdown:

• Base salary of $584,243
• Signing bonus of $2,750,000
• Stock awards of $4,296,000
• Option awards of $7,225,500
• Non-equity incentive plan compensation worth $2,500,000
• "Other compensation" including company matching contributions for a 401(k) restore plan and company match retirement savings valued at $72,046

The skinny:

Wise, who took over after former CEO Dale Wolf stepped down in January 2009, is the first of two new CEOs to appear on our list. His 2009 compensation package, worth $17.4 million, accounted for a whopping 7 percent of his company's $242.3 million net income, as reported in the company's 2009 annual report [2]. 

Stock and option awards alone accounted for 66 percent of Wise's 2009 compensation, while another $5.25 million was given out due to performance and signing bonus plans. 

Related Articles:
Dale Wolf resigns as President and CEO of Coventry Health Care [3]
Coventry, Medco want to lower costs for seniors [4]
2008 CEO Compensation - Dale Wolf [5]