If we measure a CEO’s job difficulty based on how many years a typical company in their industry can safely operate while stagnating, then the job has become many times more difficult in the last 40 years in some industries. In others, perhaps only twice as difficult.
That is not to say that salaries should stay high, but we would look for reduction to come from systemic productivity gains in management that have come to other white collar professions: software, more efficient management hierarchies, cultural changes in communication, etc.
I’m certain that they delegate those issues to subordinates; do you feel that there is skill involved in managing and supervising subordinates, and melding their disparate opinions into a coherent and profitable direction for the company?