With a HUGE severance payments of MILLIONS.
And also will probably be recycled into another CEO/ executive position at another company even though he was a total failure at his last postion.
Your either a Businesses school student or upstart in corporate america. I can tell by all the bullshyt you are spewing.
I will fully disclose that I've had a career in Executive/Employee Compensation my entire life (both consulting and industry). So I've had a hand in designing and managing pay programs for companies.
I know severance gets a bad rap but most of it is what the CEO already earned. It's mostly stock they were granted years ago, that were either going to vest after a certain time period (1-3 years) or base salary,bonus, and long term incentives that a CEO already earned but decided to defer receiving until a later date. This isnt free money, the corporations are legally bound to pay the CEO what he/she is owed. Only way a company gets out of this is if they were fired for cause (illegal shyt or not acting in good faith of the company)
The only bullshyt severance that goes on is when a CEO is paid cash (non-compete agreement) to not work for 3-5 years. This is standard for any CEO. CEO's are privy to company strategy, products, and future roadmaps. Can't just fire them and let them link up with a competitor. Nah, the Board of Directors is going to pay them to sit out while the company follows thru with their 5 years strategy.
CEOs that were total failures usually don't get recycled into other CEO positions or high level exec positions until after their non-competes run their course. Most terrible CEOs go down with the ship.