A quick update on avarice in America and beyond

Over 2,500 global political and economic leaders gathered at the Swiss resort of Davos last week, for the annual World Economic Forum. The question at the forum’s first debate: “Is 20th-century capitalism failing 21st-century society?” One answer came from the nearby Swiss resort of Klosters, where several thousand deep-pocket “polo enthusiasts” were frolicking at the village’s eighth annual “snow polo” tourney. This year’s festivities had eight teams of horses and riders competing “to hit a ball between goalposts shaped like giant champagne bottles” while onlookers savored “roast saddle of veal with morel mushroom mousse.” The tourney has grown mightily over recent years. Says founder Daniel Waechter: “Despite the financial crisis, we’ve never had so many team requests.”

Right-wingers had a new target last week: actor Robert Redford, the guiding hand behind Utah’s annual Sundance Film Festival. Redford opened this year’s festival declaring that “Sundance exists for the forgotten 99 percent.” Fox News promptly highlighted the Sundance “super rich celebrities racing each other to scoop up corporate sponsor freebies” and ridiculed Redford for sticking “99 percent of his foot in his mouth.” But the ridiculers failed to notice that this year’s festival debuted a compelling new film, We’re Not Broke, that vividly details how the ultra rich exploit offshore tax havens at the expense of “99 percent” America . . .

Corporate America’s most exclusive club — the $50 million-a-year pay gang — may need to get a bigger clubhouse. The first national surveys on 2011 executive pay won’t be appearing until later this winter, but corporate filings made public so far are hinting at what ought to be a boffo year. Among the CEOs already in this year’s $50 million club: Qualcomm’s Paul Jacobs ($50.6 million), J.C. Penney’s Ron Johnson ($51.5 million), Starbucks’ Howard Schultz ($68.8 million), Tyco International’s Ed Breen ($68.9 million), and Apple’s Tim Cook ($378 million). Disney’s Robert Iger figures to be a club mainstay for quite some time. His new pay deal steered $52.8 million his way in 2011 and guarantees him at least $30 million a year more through 2015.