10 chiefs in the hotseat

7 of 10

Mel Karmazin, Sirius

Decaying orbit: Sirius finally pushed through its long-anticipated merger with rival XM - just as the crumbling economics of the car industry put new pressure on the cash-burning company.

Why he's miserable: Penny-pinching consumers have grown less inclined to get satellite radio for their new rigs. Meanwhile, the company continues to struggle with sky-high costs, though Sirius recently said it could swing to positive cash flow next year excluding certain expenses including, of all things, satellite-related costs.

Why others are miserable: Sirius was once one of Wall Street's favorite growth stories, rocketing to $7 and change from under a dollar a share between 2003 and 2005. But the stock has plunged back to $1.60 or so since, and analysts worry that the merged companies may face soaring costs as they refinance debt.

What he makes: $32 million

What shareholders have lost: $2 billion (46%)

Misery Index: 78

NEXT: Howard Schultz, Starbucks