2008: CEO, Morgan Stanley (MS)

Mack took over as Morgan Stanley's CEO in 2005. He ramped up the risk taking that led to the bank's near-implosion but is also rescued Morgan Stanley from the brink. Following Lehman's bankruptcy, he helped the bank secure a critical $9 billion lifeline from the Japanese bank Mitsubishi UFJ -- in addition to government funding.

Mack earned roughly $44 million in 2007 and 2008, according to SNL Financial. Morgan Stanley's stock lost nearly 73% of its value during Mack's tenure, which wrapped up at the end of 2011.

Now: board member; KKR adviser

Mack is keeping busy in semi-retirement mode. He remains a senior adviser at Morgan Stanley and signed onto an advisory role at the private equity firm KKR (KKR). He's also working as a board member at peer-to-peer lending company Lending Club and the mining company Glencore Xstrata.