The Washington Post notes that "Perks Still in Play But Sometimes Are Less Lavish:"

Financial services companies were largely rolling back executive fringe benefits in 2007. But that doesn't mean they were insignificant.

For example, before leaving with a cash severance payment of $3.2 million, Sallie Mae chief executive Thomas J. Fitzpatrick received medical, housing and auto benefits of almost $30,000 last year. Fannie Mae chief executive Daniel H. Mudd got almost $150,000 in fringe benefits, 90 percent related to life and liability insurance coverage and matches for charitable contributions in 2007. His other perks included financial counseling services, an executive health program and dining services.

It's not just executives who eat and travel on the company dime. Often, their spouses do, too.

Freddie Mac, for instance, pays business-related travel and dining expenses for the spouses of top executives.

Negotiating a new chief executive contract is no cheap exercise. Freddie Mac paid $100,000 in legal fees for chairman and chief executive Richard F. Syron to renegotiate his contract last year. He got an 18 percent raise and a $1.25 million extension bonus.

It's common for companies to foot the legal bill for executives during employment negotiations. "Many companies agree that the executives should be represented legally, and as a result they should be willing to pay for counsel for the executive," Hall said. "It's kind of like loading the gun against yourself."