In 1994, Mr. Silverman, who was then the chief executive of HFS, earned a salary of $1.4 million. The Cendant spokesman declined to comment on why Mr. Silverman would accept Mr. Tollman's offer to share personally in profits from a deal that was struck by his company, HFS. Mr. Edelman did not return a phone call seeking comment. As for Mr. Silverman's more recent compensation, Mr. Foley, the executive pay expert, said of Cendant: "It's the supersizing that stands out. The quadruple witching, heavy-on-the-gravy impact of big cash compensation plus huge stock options, plus huge life insurance benefits. And this on top of an unusually long, 10-year employment agreement with balance-of-the-term severance rights." Mr. Munger said he thought the never-ending escalation in executive pay was bound to create a backlash. "By the way, we believe in high pay for superior performance," he said.