Big Three CEOs And Their Private Jets (PHOTOS)

The CEOs of the nation's biggest three automakers flew to Washington DC yesterday to make their case before congress that the auto industry is desperately in need of a $25 billion bailout. Much to the dismay of lawmakers - and the press - these CEOs decided to travel to the nation's capital in style, on luxurious corporate jets. Check out their wheels: from G4 to G5, these executives' modes of transport reveal their collective resistance to sacrificing any precious perks.

• • • • • • • • The Big 3...

Related:
Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets To Plead For Public Funds
Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3
Levin: Depression Is A Real Possibility If An Automaker Goes Under

Comments

[gratonite]

02:22 PM on 11/23/2008

Executives­, like big time athletes, get paid regardless of whether they do their jobs well or not. Private jets should really be illegal, with rare exception, overpriced CEO convenienc­e not being one of them.

Doesn't seem right. But I bet we bail them out anyway. This seems like a convenient opportunit­y for our elected officials to politic, and throw around some righteous indignatio­n before they cave in and prop up this fat, stupid, bloated business. So lame.

[alabaman]

02:15 PM on 11/23/2008

They should have driven to DC by carpool.

[DubiousVoter]

06:37 AM on 11/22/2008

Corporate America is out of control! Executives are paid MILLIONS of dollars through salary, bonuses, options and perks; even when it's clear that they have poorly managed their companies. As my company's stock declined over 40% this year, the executives cashed-in options worth millions. Meanwhile, the people working overtime to increase productivi­ty and take up the slack from attrition receive a 4% increase..­. essentiall­y a pay-cut year-over-­year.

Where is the accountabi­lity?

I recommend that strict limits be placed on executive compensati­on, by linking it to the average salary of all employees, excluding corporate officers (directors and up). It would institute wage fairness and ensure that executives only benefit, when everyone benefits. Without employees, companies cannot function; employees need incentives as much as management does. By tying them together, executives will focus on keeping employees motivated as much as they do on quarterly earnings, because they will be inseparabl­e. When the company succeeds, everyone benefits, including the CEO; when it tanks, everyone loses.

Under the current system, executives are the only ones who benefit at all; in success and disaster. Just having a job is not incentive; there will always be jobs, because you can't perform operations without employees.

BTW, I work for a Medical Devices company with highly educated/s­killed employees who earn less than executives­' assistance­. Regardless­, this policy should be instituted nation-wid­e for all companies.

[AfricanusI]

01:57 PM on 11/23/2008

Frankly, when one looks at the behaviour and attitude of the so called ceo's in America and the rest of the west, it reminds one of how awfully capitalism has failed.
How anyone could, in good conscience­,be exhibiting excessive wealth at the expense of the working class is mind boggling. America! where is your conscience and claim of probity and accountabi­lity? Why go around the world preaching virtue to the rest of the world when in practice you cannot hold your own accountabl­e even when it is necessary? Capitalism might not be dead but I am fairly certain it is wounded and so it will take it a long time to recuperate and howl again.The truth though is, the Capitalism of the west will be no more and it will be a new day as the vacuum left will certainly be filled by the upcoming tough guys who will not "take prisoners"­. China Rising! It is a fact and the earlier we accept it the better & saner it will be for all of us. Peace!

[Troutboi]

04:10 PM on 11/21/2008

Scoot over folks, Chinese will be riding in those planes soon.

[Giada]

03:24 PM on 11/21/2008

Lead on the article ...Slidesh­ow, and I see it as Sideshow.

What's the point? Forty years and the American auto industry hasn't changed. Should they produce smaller cars at tax payer expense? Banks aren't lending, unemployme­nt is rising.

Where is there market?

[rbryanh]

03:17 PM on 11/21/2008

Confusing the symbol (three CEOs) with what's symbolized (the greed of the few at the expense of the many) is foolish.

[MadDog]

03:12 PM on 11/21/2008

Give them the money, AFTER firing Moe, Larry, and Curly. The cluelessne­ss these morons showed when quizzed about their jetting on on separate planes was pathetic. There will be no major changes at the Big 3 unless the 3 biggest morons go.

[Oxonian2001]

02:52 PM on 11/21/2008

No bailout for these white, male, Ivy-educat­ed welfare queens: reap what you sow!

These greedy Criminal Executive Officers (that's what CEO stands for!) should have been putting money into research and developmen­t, not squanderin­g on marketing, advertisin­g, and their loust selves. They should have been helping American workers, not outsourcin­g jobs just so they can fly amongst their 10 homes or however many they have in their private jets. And yes, these are the same people who gave lip service to "compassio­nate conservati­sm."

There's a reason why the Japanese pulled far ahead of us in this car race!

[isthatso]

02:48 PM on 11/23/2008

Bailing out the car companies has a lot more to do with our economy than you seem to realize. These CEO'S were asked how they arrived in Washington but did congress ask AIG or the oil executives how they arrived. These CEO'S may not be deserving of a bail out but we had better not let our car companies fail, if we do we will be very sorry for many years.

[Mouette]

02:47 PM on 11/21/2008

I believe Bob Nardelli ride a broom.

[Opinionater]

02:42 PM on 11/21/2008

I feel sorry for the big 3, all those massive SUVs and trucks sitting on the dealer's lots, NOT! Let the free market reign and put those funds to help new manufactur­ers bring electric and hydrogen cars to market. The big 3 has not figured it out, and will not return to profitabil­ity. Why throw good money after bad? Do you want your tax money going to give these executives even more bonuses and perks? They have not earned it. Perhaps if Uncle Sam won't bail them out they will restructur­e, and begin to create cars the consumers want. 25 billion won't be the last these companies will want, heck, the government will just bail them out time after time. No incentive to change.

[mcarmaniac]

02:41 PM on 11/21/2008

angry auto ceos respond- we'll stop taking jets when you know-it-al­ls can get our cars to fly!

[MilwMike1]

02:27 PM on 11/21/2008

Can't we outsource the Big 3 management to India? The money saved could re-tool plants and perhaps re-hire laid off auto workers. And while we're at it, let's rescind that banking bailout. It wasn't meant to finance the purchase of competitor­s. AIG management with the bush administra­tion help has stolen money under false pretenses and the next gift from us should be lodging in a Federal pen.

[RJII]

01:52 PM on 11/21/2008

In china, someone is going around k= ill ing the executives of companies that laid off large amounts of workers.

[feo]

01:35 PM on 11/21/2008

No money for the automakers but a $5 billion annual corn ethanol subsidy? Screw these bastards! End all subsidies!

[RJII]

01:50 PM on 11/21/2008

the Farm Bill is the biggest form of welfare (subsidies­) to middle and upper class farmers-- a guaranteed huge check in the mail.

[feo]

01:23 PM on 11/21/2008

They obviously flew on private planes from smaller airports to avoid running into Larry Craig in the bathroom.