Total annual compensation: $40.3 million Tillerson was elected as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Exxon Mobil in 2006. He joined the company in 1979 as an engineer and held several positions throughout the years nationally and internationally. As CEO, Tillerson led the company to acquire XTO Energy, a leading natural gas and oil producer and Fortune 500 company. His compensation has increased by 15.3% since 1999.