Reality Check

What do Citigroup, Countrywide, and Merrill Lynch have in common? A couple things. They are all financial service firms with big roles in the sub prime mortgage mess, either as originators or investors. All recently took big hits to their balance sheets. All have unhappy investors. All appeared in front of Rep. Harry Waxman's (D CA) committee last week to discuss executive compensation.

The combined compensation for the three ex-CEOs responsible for spearheading a national recession and tanking the profits of their compnaies? $400 million. Remember that number the next time someone tells you that "the market" only rewards success.