1. Matt Maddox
CFO & Treasurer
Wynn Resorts (WYNN)
Age: 34
2008 Total compensation*: $17.66 million
The house may always win, but Wynn Resorts' CFO is on a streak: Since joining the company in 2002 to head financial operations at the Wynn Resort in Macau, Maddox rose quickly up the corporate ladder and last year was promoted to CFO of the company.
Now he oversees the entire cash flow of Steve Wynn's casino and hotel empire. And he's become a high roller pay-wise too: With a base salary of $593,590, stock options worth more than $11 million, and stock awards worth more than $5 million, Maddox tops our list of highest-paid public company executives under age 40.
2. James R. Murdoch
Chairman and CEO, Europe and Asia
News Corp. (NWSA)
Age: 36
2008 Total compensation*: $10.15 million
The second son of media titan Rupert Murdoch -- older brother Lachlan left his job at News Corp. in 2005 but still sits on the board -- James is the heir apparent to his father's $33 billion empire (and No. 3 on our 40 Under 40 list).........
