2012 highest-paid media executives

Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner Inc., received a compensation package of $25.9 million in 2012. Prior to this position, Bewkes was the CEO of HBO.   (Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

Thomas Dooley is the COO of Viacom Inc. He and Viacom Inc. CEO Philippe Dauman co-ran the private equity firm DND Capital Partners prior to their positions at Viacom Inc.   (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast Corp., received a compensation package of $29 million in 2012. Roberts is chairman of the board of directors of the National Cable & Telecommunications Assn.  (Suzanne Plunkett / Associated Press)

Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp., received a compensation package of $30 million in 2012. Despite legal controversy, Murdoch continues to dominate large portions of the media.   ( Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA)

Philippe Dauman, CEO of Viacom Inc., received a compensation package of $33.4 million in 2012. Prior to this position, Dauman ran his private equity firm, DND Capital Partners.   (Rajesh Nirgude / Associated Press)

David Zaslav, CEO of Discovery Communications Inc., received a compensation package of $49.9 million in 2012. Zaslav was formerly president of cable and domestic TV and new media distribution at NBCUniversal.  (Nati Harnik / Associated Press)

Sumner Redstone is the executive chairman of Viacom Inc. and CBS Corp. He began building his empire at 64 years old and is still at it. His stock holdings in CBS Corp. are worth about $2.2 billion, and his holdings at Viacom Inc. are worth nearly 2.9 billion. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Leslie Moonves of CBS Corp. tops the list as the highest-paid media CEO. He received a $27-million bonus in 2012.  (Evan Agostini / Associated Press)