Top management compensation is linked to firm performance, which is reported in financial statements. Managers thus have the incentives to manipulate earnings to advance their interests. This study examines the impact of real earnings management and corporate governance on top management pay. Its empirical results show a significant positive relationship between real earnings management and the compensation president and vice president receive. Specifically, the higher the degree of real earnings management, the greater the top management compensation. In addition, a significant negative relationship between the corporate audit committees and the dividend compensation of top managers exists. The results remain the same in different sample sizes.