Slideshow: Who Makes The Most Money Of All?

Stephen Feinberg, co-founder of turnaround specialist Cerberus Capital Management, and more Howard Hughes than David Rubenstein when it comes to public appearances, stunned a Boston crowd of private-equity professionals this week by suggesting that the industry may be hauling in too much in management fees.

“In general, I think that all of us are way overpaid in this business. It is almost embarrassing,” said Feinberg, speaking on Tuesday at the SuperReturn conference in Boston, according to sister news service Reuters. Cerberus Capital closed its most recent core fund in 2007 at $7.5 billion–a sum that would translate into a $75 million per year revenue stream for the firm during the investment period were it to charge a modest 1 percent management fee. (By press time a Cerberus Capital media representative had not been able to answer my question about what the firm actually charges.)

Below I thought I’d share results from our 2010 annual compensation survey of North American venture capital firms, showing the top 10 positions for salary and bonus compensation. Click here if you’re a buyout or venture firm interested in participating in our 2011 survey. You can weigh in here on the question of whether you agree PE executives are overpaid.

[slideshow]

[slide title=”10 – Head of Investor Relations”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $138,122

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $137,025

% Change: 1%

[slide title=”9 – Controller”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $149,605

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $145,705

% Change: 3%

[slide title=”8 – Senior Associate (post-MBA)”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $199,375

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $158,125

% Change: 26%

[slide title=”7 – Principal”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $237,343

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $220,566

% Change: 8%

[slide title=”6 – Vice President”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $248,792

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $214,350

% Change: 16%

[slide title=”5 – Chief Financial Officer”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $266,684

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $261,452

% Change: 2%

[slide title=”4 – Partner”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $375,035

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $437,585

% Change: -14%

[slide title=”3 – Senior Partner”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $463,472

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $535,497

% Change: -13%

[slide title=”2 – Chief Operating Officer”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $550,239

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $502,863

% Change: 9%

[slide title=”1 – Managing General Partner”]

2010 Salary + Bonus, Average: $892,096

2009 Salary + Bonus, Average: $816,325

% Change: 9%

[/slideshow]

Source: Thomson Reuters

David M. toll is editor-in-charge of Buyouts Magazine. Follow him @davidmtoll. Follow @Buyouts.