Sanger, who retired as head of the company that makes Wheaties and Cheerios cereals at the end of its fiscal 2008 year in May, earned $13.8 million, the filing said. That compared to earnings of $12.1 million in the previous year.

Sanger's base salary was nearly $1.3 million, and he also was given $3.5 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation for meeting financial targets, the regulatory filing said.

In addition, Sanger was given miscellaneous compensation of $470,701. This included company contributions to savings plans as well as perks valued at $192,184; those included $50,567 for personal air travel, $16,806 for use of the executive car and $40,200 in discounts when he bought the car. He was also given $15,054 for financial planning, $32,772 for insurance and $17,298 for unused vacation days.

The bulk of his compensation for the fiscal year was in stock and option awards valued at more than $8.5 million when they were granted in June 2007.