Boeing boss's $33M pay package approved | Hacker News Reader

Boeing boss's $33M pay package approved

bbc.com

11 pointsbelter16 comments

Slightly off topic question.

>That compared to a package of roughly $22.6m (£17m) in 2022.

This man already had $22 million dollars. What drives someone to even keep working once you have that kind of money. You could live your life over again 20 times with just that one compensation package [1]. Seriously, what's in it for this guy? I can't imagine being head of Boeing is a particularly enjoyable position. Is there some secret way of living that only makes sense once you've attained an obscene net worth? Is just plain old power and greed? I'd have been out in 2022, hell if I had $1 million right now my main focus would be on how I can not work for the rest of my life. $22 million? I'm gone man, see ya. $33 million? Well, I guess we'll see what he does next.

1. https://www.theknowlesgroup.org/blog/average-american-lifeti...

That's what a middle finger big enough to be visible from space costs

Dave Calhoun was Boeing's chairman, during the period of the infamous Boeing 737 MAX criminal behavior that led to the death of 346 passengers.

Instead of shareholders sweeping the whole company management and company oversight managers, he is awarded with the CEO role. As CEO he is overseeing Boeing's current disastrous safety record. There are at least 12 Boeing whistle-blowers still active.

What drives someone to even keep on working once you have that kind of track record I would say....

I don’t get it either. I always suspect greed but I’m as puzzled. I don’t see how the headaches, the ethics of screwing people over (and killing them in that case) is so enjoyable that you just don’t know when to quit.

I suspect some people are wired differently and just can’t imagine what to do with their lives unless they’re totally consumed by work.

It also happens at lower levels, grunts in the trenches who constantly bail the company out (often for low pay) and keep doing it over again while giving up their weekends or family time.

I’d love to understand what I’m missing, but I think it’s just one of these things you can’t understand unless you’re personally afflicted by it.

People tend to have personality inertia. By that I mean that people do what they do regardless of their environment or circumstances. If you’re someone that’s driven to achieve wealth, status and power, the drive doesn’t suddenly disappear once you’ve achieved some level of it. If you’re someone who isn’t similarly driven, then you are unlikely to achieve any anyway so the question becomes moot.

Well, after taxes, it is a bit less :p

Seriously, you can't imagine how you'd spend a million bucks? I'd buy a nice home in Palo Alto, and I suspect that will set me back 6-10 million.

You can also imagine a heck of a lot of lifestyle creep. Chauffer, house manager, pool keeper, ...

Add in a taste for something nice .. cars, wine, golf, ...

He sure deserves it all, judging by how he has managed to trash the reputation of what was once one of America’s greatest companies.

You mean he works for Airbus? :-)

What do you mean by that?

I suspect it would be better long-term for the government to let Boeing fail and be replaced with another American company or two. They’re definitely acting too big to fail.

Has the American government ever done something like this? Not with banks; nor with car companies.

Realistically it would be a forced restructuring of some kind. The defense part is enough to guarantee TBTF status.

"Replacing" a commercial airliner maker would take 20 years.

Top executive exit pay packages tend to be negotiated when they’re being hired not when they’re being fired. If you recognize this fact, the numbers make more sense. You’re more likely to promise someone a generous exit package when you think they’re going to save you rather than when it’s clear they’re screwing up.

It's hard not to see this as paid to fail.

Yet another example of how American CEOs are among the highest paid and least effective in the world.

They are very effective at dealing with Whistleblowers

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