Because 'golden parachutes' were not enough, a WSJ story reported on another way to absurdly pay CEOs, even if they are dead:

"For instance, Nabors Industries (NYSE: NBR) would owe the estate of CEO Eugene Isenberg a "severance" payment of at least $263.6 million, which is more than the first-quarter earnings at the Houston oil-service company, the Journal said.

Compensation critics call the practice the ultimate in pay that is not based on performance.

Death benefits are not a new feature of executive contracts, but a federal rule change 18 months ago that forced companies to provide more detail on severance arrangements has exposed just how lavish some of these arrangements are, the Journal said.

It said the CEO of Shaw Group Inc (NYSE: SGR) is in line to be paid $17 million for not competing with the engineering and construction company after he dies."