According to the Fortune Magazine - August 06, 2007, 10 French CEOs make it into the Top 20 bracket of Europe’s CEOs, Ranked by Total Compensation – Year 2006 (Source Boardex). They are :

1. Carlos Ghosn, President / CEO, Renault – US $ 45.5 Million – Rank 1
2. Jean-Paul Agon, CEO, L’Oréal – US $ 19.3 Million – Rank 2
3. Henri de Castries, Chairman, AXA – US $ 12.1 Million – Rank 7
4. Thierry Desmarest, Former Chairman / CEO, Total – US $ 10.8 Million – Rank 8
5. Daniel Bouton, Chairman / CEO, Société Générale – US $ 10.7 Million – Rank 9
6. Xavier Huillard, CEO, Vinci – US $ 9.1 Million – Rank 12
7. Benoît Potier, Chairman, Air Liquide – US $ 8.0 Million – Rank 14
8. Martin Bouygues, Chairman / CEO, Bouygues – US $ 7.8 Million – Rank 17
9. Franck Riboud – Chairman / CEO, Group Danone – US $ 7.3 Million – Rank 18
10. 10. Patrick Kron, Chairman / CEO, Alstom – US $ 6.7 Million – Rank 20

 

The figure for Carlos Ghosn does not include the compensation he gets to run Japan’s Nissan. His 2007 package is seven times what he received in 2005 and more than double that of his closest rival in the list.

The French loom large on this list because they rely on stock options as a critical component of executive compensation.