All things considered, earning $46 million in 2008 was far less than the $81 million Mario Gabelli of
But considering the poor showing of the funds Gabelli manages, a 33% decline in assets under management, that was a tremendous payout. Of the $102 million that Gabelli and his portfolio managers earned in 2008, the chief executive took almost half.
As DealBook puts it, The $46 million payout dwarfs the 2008 compensation of many other Wall Street chieftains, who generally got no bonuses for last year and saw the value of their stock-related pay collapse.
