How much do top Canadian CEOs earn?

For the power couple behind Onex and Indigo Books and Music, 2012 was a relatively modest year thanks in part to a softer economy. As head of the $6-billion private equity firm Onex, Schwartz earned $1.3 million in base salary last year, with the bulk of his compensation coming as bonus payments. He also pocketed a $1.4-million share of Onex’s profits, down from $46 million in 2011, reflecting lower revenues. As CEO of Indigo, Reisman earned $813,200, including a $500,000 bonus payment, plus another $243,311 for sitting on the board of her husband’s fi rm. (Likewise, Schwartz is on the board of Indigo, but doesn’t collect a paycheque.) The bulk of the couple’s fortune, however, comes from dividends from their controlling interest in both firms. Schwartz took home an estimated $3.2 million in dividends from Onex, while the couple jointly earned another $5.8 million in dividends from Indigo. (Photo by Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)