$1.6 Billion Paid to Bank Execs Despite Taking Bailout Cash Breitbart TV 22 Dec 2008 .msnbcLinks {font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;} .msnbcLinks a {text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px;} .msnbcLinks a:link, .msnbcLinks a:visited {color: #5799db !important;} .msnbcLinks a:hover, .msnbcLinks a:active {color:#CC0000 !important;} Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain topped the salary list at $83 million dollars in 2008 as several bank CEOs received salaries in the millions despite taking bailout funds to stay afloat.