Jeff Smisek

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Jeff Smisek

Age: 58

Occupation: Chairman and CEO, United Continental

Thanks in part to the CEO’s skillful handling of pilot contract negotiations last year, the world’s largest airline showed Smisek the love, more than tripling his compensation (to nearly $15 million) and adding “chairman” to his title. Unfortunately, the carrier (with $37 billion in revenues) is still losing money and, in January, announced 600 layoffs.

Photograph: MICHAEL TERCHA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE