Despite Economic Disaster, Wall Street Collected $18.4 Billion In Bonuses from Consumerist

Bonuses are for a job well done, right? Well, despite the economic disaster, it seems that the folks on Wall Street rewarded themselves with $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008, which is around the same amount as they received in 2004 — when the Dow was "flying above 10,000, on its way to a record high," says the New York Times.

Of course, that $18.4 billion is much less than 2007 — the record year for bonuses. The Times points out that while things may have been going well in the past — the "gains" of those boom years have vanished — leaving only the bonuses.

rest http://consumerist.com/5141857/despite-economic-disaster-wall-street-collected-184-billion-in-bonuses