CEOs Who Risk Big for Big Paydays

Research shows that incentivizing CEOs with large pay and stock-option packages doesn't always have the intended effect of aligning their interests with shareholders. These six CEOs got fired because their risky moves backfired. Did their big paydays blind them to risk?

1. Angelo Mozilo
   Countrywide
2. Stan O'Neal
   Merrill Lynch
3. Carly Fiorina
   HP
4. Ken Thompson
   Wachovia
5. Kerry Killinger
   WaMu
6. Chuck Prince
   Citigroup