Locals shine internationally too

For executive directors or CEOs of international groups, it is not exceptional to be among the top 10 earners on the local rich list.

But some executives who make their money in rands can even compete with those earning pounds or Swiss francs.

Former Mvelaphanda Resources CEO Pine Pienaar, who tops this year's list of big earners, beat Geneva-based Richemont's Norbert Platt, BHP Billiton's Marius Kloppers and Paul Adams of British American Tobacco with his total remuneration of R63.07-million. That included fees for non-executive directorships at Northam Platinum and Trans Hex Group.

Carl Grim, former CEO of locally listed construction group Aveng, completes the top five list of big earners.

And hot on his heels were Jabu Mabuza, an executive director of Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) and Tim McClure, head of the shipping division of Grindrod, who earned more than Richemont's executive chairman Johann Rupert.

Grim, Mabuza and McClure also earned more than international executives such as Graham Mackay of SABMiller, Julian Roberts of Old Mutual, Richemont's Richard Lepeu and Ian Farmer, the CEO of Lonmin.