Federal securities regulators have been scrutinizing those trades. And in a report released Thursday, Congressional investigators found that the use of a flawed peer group and easy bonus targets helped inflate his pay. He also had been entitled to a $37.5 million severance package, though he forfeited that in January, shortly after Congress requested that he testify.

Mr. O’Neal and Mr. Prince each landed a windfall when they resigned.

Mr. O’Neal retained more than $161 million after he was ousted in October on top of the $70 million he took home during his four-year tenure. The bulk of the exit pay was linked to previously earned benefits and stock since his departure was deemed a retirement; he did not receive any severance pay. Merrill Lynch, meanwhile, has announced write-offs totaling more than $10.3 billion and watched its stock price fall sharply.

Mr. Prince collected $110 million while presiding over the evaporation of roughly $64 billion in market value. He left Citigroup in November with an exit package worth $68 million, including $29.5 million in accumulated stock, a $1.7 million pension, an office and assistant, and a car and driver. Citigroup’s board also awarded him a cash bonus for 2007, largely based on his performance in 2006 when the bank’s results were better, worth about $10 million. Citigroup has announced write-offs worth roughly $20 billion and seen its share plummet over 60 percent from last year’s high.

“From a shareholder perspective, it is not possible to justify that payment,” Ms. Minow said of the $10 million bonus to Mr. Prince, though she added, “His sins were so much smaller than the other people we’re talking about.”

Elijah E. Cummings, Democrat from Maryland, noted that “We’ve got golden parachutes drifting off to the golf course and have people I see every day who are losing their homes and wondering where their kids will do their homework.” He then asked Mr. Mozilo about an e-mail message he sent demanding that the taxes due on his wife’s travel on the corporate jet be covered by the company.

“It sounds out of whack today because it is out of whack, but in 2006 the company was going great,” Mr. Mozilo explained. “In today’s world I would never write that memo.” Mr. Mozilo also apologized for another e-mail message in which he complained about his compensation. “It was an emotional time,” he said. “I apologize for that memo.”

Mr. Mozilo said he had left a card in each Congressional office with a help line for constituents having problems with their loans. He added that if the number didn’t work, “call me  I take this very seriously.”