Carlos Ghosn — $140 Million Hidden Pay (Nissan)

Carlos Ghosn’s hidden $140 million in deferred compensation from Nissan made him the list’s most notorious escape artist, outpacing Sundar Pichai’s disclosed grant by $86 million in scandal value. After his 2018 arrest in Tokyo, Ghosn spent 130 days in detention before fleeing Japan inside a music instrument case. The compensation spanned over 8 years, averaging $17.5 million annually, yet was allegedly concealed from regulators. Nissan faced $1.2 billion in fines and legal costs, while Ghosn’s escape turned the saga into a global thriller, cementing his case as the most dramatic in CEO pay history.