An invitation to Kenny-boy's pity party

Shorter Ken Lay: "I lost my shirt because of crazy financial shenanigans, too! Where's the love?"

From 1999 to 2001, Lay testified that his total Enron compensation -- salary plus bonuses -- totaled $223 million. He said he kept $22 million for living expenses, gave away $25 million and owned three houses in Aspen, Colo., and three in Galveston, Tex., in addition to his Houston home. He had $32 million in Enron stock put into a deferred account that he said was meant for his retirement.

Lay had access to a revolving line of credit afforded some Enron executives. In 2001, Lay testified, he borrowed $77.5 million from Enron and repaid $70 million, using Enron stock. Lay also testified that he got a $10 million bonus for re-taking the chief executive job after Skilling left.

Since Enron's collapse, Lay has sold all three Aspen homes (which garnered $20 million) and all three Galveston homes, primarily to pay legal bills connected to his government indictment on six counts of fraud. He drives a '93 Mercedes, he said.

"It's all gone," Lay said.

Lay's testimony was meant to show jurors that his once-substantial worth has been drained by the government investigation and indictment.

That poor, poor bastard. He has to toodle on the highways in a '93 Mercedes. Surely this man has suffered as much as his employees, who lost their jobs and their retirement savings. Suffered as much, if not more.