Stephen Gandel, Columnist

Equifax CEO's $7.6 Million Parting Gift

Taking responsibility is easier with a cash cushion.
Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
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Here's the likely consequence of presiding over one of the largest hacks in history: a $7.6 million bonus.

Equifax announced on Tuesday that CEO Richard Smith was stepping down in the wake of a hack that exposed the personal financial data of 143 million Americans. But like other CEOs who have left in disgrace, he will leave with a full bank account and most likely a multimillion-dollar bonus, payable early next year, as part of a long-term incentive plan that the company said was supposed to align executives with shareholders.