That's not difficult, either. But then there are stock options, restricted stock, equity grants and a one-time retention equity award.

And the language is hardly plain English:

"You will also receive a retention equity award under the Stock Plan with an aggregate award value of $30 million (the "Retention Equity Award"), such grant to be made to you at the same time, in the same forms (including the utilization of performance criteria), in the same manner, in the same proportions as the 2012 Annual Grant and subject to the same conditions, except that the Retention Equity Award restricted stock units will vest 1/5th on the anniversary of the Next Grant Date in each year from 2013 to 2017, and the Retention Equity Award options will be 1/5th (rather than 1/3rd) vesting in equal installments at the 12-month, 18-month, 30-month, 42-month and 54-month anniversaries of the Next Grant Date."

Perhaps it's no wonder that journalists have come up with wildly different estimates for how much Mayer could make over the next five years. So perhaps the best answer to the question of how much she'll take home is this one: a lot more than you.

The IDG News Service