Non-pay perks abound for some CEOs

— -- Yet, in December, the Chesapeake board of directors approved an extra $12.2 million for the purchase of McClendon's collection of historical maps, books, paintings and photos, according to Chesapeake's proxy. The maps and artwork had adorned Chesapeake's headquarters, and the proxy notes that the company got a good deal.

In these times of economic difficulty, CEO bonuses may have gone down, but companies continue to be creative when handing out perks. While the median value of bonuses and other incentive cash dropped 27% in 2008, an examination of CEO compensation by USA TODAY and the Associated Press found that the median value of perks and other compensation increased 7% to $170,501.

There are many examples of the usual CEO benefits, sometimes worth millions, such as chauffeurs, security and the personal use of corporate aircraft. Companies often don't stop at paying CEOs big bonuses, but step in with more money to pay the taxes on those bonuses, known as tax gross-ups.

One perk involves a non-compete clause for a dead man, says Vineeta Anand, chief research analyst of the AFL-CIO Office of Investment, which produces the website Executive PayWatch.

Should James Bernhard, CEO of the Shaw Group die, the engineering and construction company would pay his family $18 million for him not to compete with the company for two years, Anand says. "It's not only funny, it's outrageous," she says. "That is the most outrageous perk of all. Everything pales by comparison."

Shaw spokesman Gentry Brann says it is really an award that Bernhard is to be paid upon his departure from the company. If he dies, his family would get it. "To conclude that we require him not to compete for two years after his death to receive payment is a gross mischaracterization of his agreement," Brann says.

A sampling of other CEO perks and other compensation: