Ballmer took home just $1.35M in compensation last year

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wasn't awarded the highest total compensation package in fiscal 2008 - that prize was enjoyed by COO Kevin Turner who raked in a total compensation deal worth $10 million, up from almost $8.5 million last year, according to Microsoft's proxy statement. Ballmer's total compensation was $1.35 million. He has for a number of years declined a larger compensation package but instead prefers to reap his rewards through increasing Microsoft's value. Ballmer owns 4.51% of the company and his slice was worth $10.25 billion as of 4 p.m. PT Monday, reports Brier Dudley in the Seattle Times.

Another interesting snippet from the proxy filing, as noted by Dudley, is the agreement that Microsoft would buy the homes of Turner and CFO Chris Liddell if they couldn't sell their houses quickly enough when they relocated. Microsoft took a hit of $2 million on Liddel's abode and $254,000 on Turner's pad, reports Dudley.

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• Microsoft
• Chris Liddell
• Kevin Turner
• Microsoft proxy statement
• Steve Ballmer
• Steve Ballmer's compensation