CBS Boss Les Moonves Makes $70M

Network TV struggling? Not enough to prevent CBS honcho Les Moonves from pulling in $69.9 million in total compensation last year, reports the Wall Street Journal. The president and CEO had a base salary of $3.5 million, with the rest coming in the form of a bonus, plus stock and option awards.

In contrast, CBS executive chairman Sumner Redstone made $20.3 million. Moonves' haul makes him the highest-paid media CEO, at least among companies that have disclosed 2011 pay, notes the Wrap. His compensation is up 21% from 2010, thanks to a much larger option award. The network points out that the company's stock rose 40% last year. (More CBS stories.)