Critics have charged that compensation to top managers in the United States is simply too high and should be cut back. For example, focusing on large corporations, Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum has been one of the best-compensated CEOs in the United States, earning about $54.4 million in 2007 alone and $550 million over the 2003-2007 period. Are such amounts excessive? In answering, it might be helpful to recognize that superstar athletes such as Tiger Woods, top entertainers such as Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey, and many others at the top of their respective fi elds earn at least as much, if not a great deal more.