Apple CEO Tim Cook had the highest compensation for the CEO of a large American company in 2011, according to the annual Wall Street Journal/Hay Group survey, as reported by “The Mercury News” (http://macte.ch/YoDrQ). His one-time restricted stock award gives him nearly five times the remuneration as the second CEO on the list: Oracle’s Larry Ellison.

When Cook replaced Steve Jobs as CEO, Apple awarded hime one million restricted share units, which were then worth US$376.2 million. At Friday’s closing price, the shares would be worth more than $530 million. This in in addition to his annual $900,000 salary and equal incentives.