CEO Bonuses Shoot Up 30.5%

So far, it’s looking like 2010 was a banner year for CEOs. An analysis of disclosures released by 50 major corporations reveals that the median CEO bonus jumped 30.5%, the Wall Street Journal reports, significantly outpacing the companies’ 19.4% median net income growth. Some of the biggest winners included the heads of Disney, Clorox, and Jabil Circuit. Starbucks' Howard Schultz walked away with a $3.5 million bonus, up from $1 million the year before.

The big upswing in pay comes with an intriguing wrinkle, however, because thanks to the new financial reform law, companies whose stock-market value is more than $75 million will have to give shareholders a chance to express their opinions about executive pay at their annual meetings. So far investors have already voiced their displeasure at two companies, and at five others support for the bonuses came in at less than 70%. (More CEOs stories.)