Exxon Mobil 2011 Profit: $41.1 Billion; Tax Rate About 17.6% (For 1/31/12)

Exxon Mobil's 2011 $41.1 billion profit was the largest of the five biggest oil companies. It recorded an estimated corporate tax rate of 17.6% from 2008-2010, lower than the 20.4% that the average American paid during the same time. It uses Carribean bank accounts as tax shelters and paid no federal income taxes on 2009 profits of $45.2 billion. From 2005 to 2010, job losses from the company's total workforce amounted to 11,200. Instead, it used its profits to enrich its executives, directors, and biggest investros with over $20 billion of stock buybacks in 2011. http://thinkprogress.org/green/2012/01/31/415242/exxonmobil-made-411-billion-in-2011-but-pays-estimated-176-percent-tax-rate/

$100 Million-Plus Golden Parachutes for 21 CEOs (for 1/28/12)

GMI Ratings published a first-ever report that found 21 CEOs since 2001 took home $100 million or more of severance, often referred to as a golden parachute. Jack Welch headed General Electric for 20 years and received a golden parachute of over $400 million as his tenure as CEO ended in 2001. Exxon Mobil's Lee Raymond took home over $320 million after his 12-year tenure as CEO ended in 2005. http://news.yahoo.com/golden-parachutes-21-ceos-landed-100m-plus-123243881--abc-news.html