It's not just CEOs who are overpaid.
Shaquille O’Neal, center, Miami Heat
Annual Salary: $20 million
PFP Factoid: As of this writing, he’s averaging career-low points and rebounds per game for 2006–07. “Double-doubles” (double digits in points and rebounds) are down 90 percent from average of past five years.
Allan Houston, guard, New York Knicks
Annual Salary: $18 million
PFP Factoid: Signed six-year $100 million deal in 2001. Injured and sent into early retirement in 2005, but still collects his pay.
Kerry Wood, pitcher, Chicago Cubs
Annual Salary: $12 million
PFP Factoid: Averaged just four victories in his last three years with Cubs. Earned $3 million per game for the four games he started in 2006: only one of them was a win.
Katie Couric
Salary: $15 million
PFP Factoid: Took over as anchor of CBS Evening News in September 2006. Ratings initially strong, but seven weeks later the program fell to third place, where it has stayed.
Halle Berry
Salary: $16 million
PFP Factoid: Since 2001 Oscar win, she’s made a series of clunkers, including “Gothika” and “Catwoman.” Remains a hot Hollywood commodity, nonetheless.
Paris Hilton
Salary: $7 million
PFP Factoid: Famous for being famous, gets inexplicably big pay for endorsement deals. Her CD “Paris,” called “certified flop” by The New York Post, ranks 2,125th on Amazon.
Chan Ho Park, pitcher, New York Mets
Annual Salary: $16 million
PFP Factoid: Since signing a big contract prior to the 2002 season, he has won only 45 of 127 games started. Notched a 7–7 record with the Padres in 2006, and an ERA of 4.81.
Chris Webber, forward-center, Detroit Pistons
Annual Salary: $19 million
PFP Factoid: Last season with 76ers, he was second-highest-paid player in NBA but ranked 21st in scoring, 8th in rebounds.
Sharon Stone
Salary: $14 million (at least)
PFP Factoid: Starred in disastrous “Basic Instinct 2,” which cost $70 million to make (one-fifth of that went straight to Stone) and grossed less than $6 million in the U.S.
