How the highest paid earn their keep

BANG FOR THE BUCK The fact that executives rake in millions suggests that their employers believe they're worth it. Forbes magazine tested the premise and in a recent survey listed five Houston executives among the Top 50 CEOs who give the best bang for their compensation buck — based on total annualized return during their tenure. John Kelly of Crown Castle International, a wireless communication giant in the U.S. and Australia, ranked third on the list of executives earning their keep. He was 74th on the Chronicle's ranking by total 2007 compensation, with $4,481,370. The others: • Michael Watford , CEO of Ultra Petroleum, a natural gas exploration and production company, 10th on the Forbes list, 97th in total compensation at $3,562,653. • Pete Miller , CEO of National Oilwell Varco, which makes and services almost all... [read full story]