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. . like $400 million retirement packages . . .

I was doing some research over the weekend. There's a pipeline being built from Alaska to the U.S. mainland. A couple of oil companies are cooperating to build it.

One company's fraction is $20 Billion.

Building a new refinery is also a multi-billion dollar proposition, if getting past the regulatory red tape was possible.

Exxon-Mobil alone spends $8 billion/year just on exploration.

I'm not an investor (at least not directly), so its none of my business what payment the executives get from the board, but I'd guess its pretty rare to find management talent that's able to successfully run companies that are as massive, complicated, and competitive as a major oil company. If it takes $400 million retirement to attract the talent capable of squeaking out the margins oil companies make and turning it into $Billions of profits that are in turn used to make $Billions in investments to perpetuate the business, then I'd say its worth it.

From what I've read, the oil companies are hiring and paying well above average wages to everyone - not just the top talent.