CEO-to-worker compensation ratio, with options granted and options realized, 1965–2012

Year Options realized Options granted
1965 20.1 18.3
1966 21.3 19.4
1967 22.5 20.5
1968 23.8 21.7
1969 23.4 21.3
1970 23.1 21.0
1971 22.7 20.7
1972 22.4 20.4
1973 22.1 20.1
1974 23.3 21.2
1975 24.6 22.4
1976 26.0 23.7
1977 27.5 25.0
1978 29.0 26.5
1979 30.9 28.2
1980 33.0 30.0
1981 35.1 32.0
1982 37.5 34.1
1983 39.9 36.4
1984 42.5 38.8
1985 45.3 41.3
1986 48.3 44.0
1987 51.5 46.9
1988 54.9 50.0
1989 58.5 53.3
1990 71.0 64.7
1991 86.1 78.4
1992 104.4 95.2
1993 111.8 99.9
1994 87.3 119.0
1995 122.6 136.8
1996 153.8 183.3
1997 233.0 236.9
1998 321.8 317.7
1999 286.7 301.5
2000 383.4 411.3
2001 214.2 338.7
2002 188.5 236.1
2003 227.5 223.8
2004 256.6 231.2
2005 308.0 242.9
2006 341.4 244.8
2007 351.3 244.1
2008 234.3 225.7
2009 193.2 181.6
2010 227.9 205.9
2011 231.8 214.6
2012 272.9 202.3

Note: This figure uses the "Options granted" compensation data series which includes salary, bonuses, restricted stock grants, options granted, and long-term incentive payouts for CEOs at the top 350 firms ranked by sales. This figure also uses the "Options realized" compensation data series which includes salary, bonuses, restricted stock grants, options exercised, and long-term incentive payouts for CEOs at the top 350 firms ranked by sales.

Source: Authors' analysis of data from Compustat's ExecuComp database, the Current Employment Statistics program, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis NIPA tables

View the underlying data on epi.org.