Paycom Software's Richison, AMD's Su among highest paid CEOs

The AP's compensation study covered 342 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 $12.7 million last year, including salary, stock and other compensation. Median means half the CEOs in the survey made more, and half made less. 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.

___ Top Male CEOs: 1. Chad Richison Paycom Software $211.1 million Change from last year: 899% His pay vs typical company worker: 2,963 times, up from 328 Overall ranking: No. 1 ___ 2. Robert Kotick Activision Blizzard $154.6 million. Change from last year: 413% His pay vs typical company worker: 1,560 times, up from 319 Overall ranking: 2 ___ 3. Leonard S. Schleifer

This photo combination shows from left, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick, Lisa Su, president and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, Regeneron CEO Dr. Leonard Schleifer. Pay packages rose yet again in 2020 for the CEOs of the biggest U.S. companies, even though the pandemic sent the economy to its worst quarter on record and slashed corporate profits around the world. Credit: AP Photo/FILE Read more

In this July 7, 2020 file photo, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick arrives at the morning session of the annual Allen & Co. Media Summit in Sun Valley, Idaho. Pay packages rose yet again in 2020 for the CEOs of the biggest U.S. companies, even though the pandemic sent the economy to its worst quarter on record and slashed corporate profits around the world. Credit: AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File Read more

In this June 19, 2017 file photo, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, pauses before an American Technology Council roundtable in the State Dinning Room of the White House in Washington. Pay packages rose yet again in 2020 for the CEOs of the biggest U.S. companies, even though the pandemic sent the economy to its worst quarter on record and slashed corporate profits around the world. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File Read more

In this May 1, 2019, file photo Lisa Su, president and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, attends the opening bell at Nasdaq in New York. Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, 2020, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses. Su, topped the list with a compensation package worth $27.1 million. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File Read more

In this March 2, 2020 file photo, Regeneron CEO Dr. Leonard Schleifer speaks at a meeting with President Donald Trump, members of the Coronavirus Task Force, and pharmaceutical executives in the Cabinet Room of the White House, in Washington. Pay packages rose yet again in 2020 for the CEOs of the biggest U.S. companies, even though the pandemic sent the economy to its worst quarter on record and slashed corporate profits around the world.Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File Read more

In this July 19, 2018 file photo, Northrop Grumman's CEO Kathy Warden speaks with President Donald Trump during a signing ceremony for an Executive Order that establishes a National Council for the American Worker in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, 2020, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses.Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File Read more

In this Feb. 23, 2017, file photo, General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with manufacturing executives at the White House in Washington. Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, 2020, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses.Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File Read more

In this July 16, 2019, file photo General Motors CEO Mary Barra speaks during the opening of their contract talks with the United Auto Workers in Detroit. Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, 2020, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File Read more