Mr. Paulson has about $630 million in Goldman stock and vested options, based on estimates from the latest regulatory filings and yesterday's $149.89 closing price.

Because the company's share price has fallen more than 50 percent since Ms. Fiorina took over in July 1999, most of her six million vested options have no current market value.

And, of course, there was no chance that Mr. Fuld would leave without exercising all 800,000 of the fully vested options, which by then were worth $34.5 million.

In addition to $10.88 million in vested options and $4.07 million in restricted stock, Mr. Hoopis stands to get $6.1 million in severance.

And Mr. Raines, 55, holds vested options for 1.6 million shares of stock, plus options for 368,800 shares that he becomes eligible for upon retirement.

He also holds vested options for 481,600 shares.

That same threshold kicks in a $6 million vested option for 2003.

At yesterday's closing price for Cyberonics, the value of the vested options was $601,500 to Mr. Cummins and $40,100 each to the others.

Reed signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal last winter, with a vested fourth-year option for $8 million based on innings pitched.

But Orosco's contract calls for a $1.1 million salary in 2000, and he has a vested option for 2001, based on appearances.