If there were awards for which CEO in Washington did the most to earn his paycheck last year, Blake Nordstrom would be a "shoe-in.""

The CEO who heads the apparel retailer founded by his great grandfather, John W. Nordstrom, took home a little more than $4.8 million in cash and stock in 2006, according to regulatory filings.

But shareholders certainly got their money's worth. While Nordstrom's compensation increased about 58 percent between 2004 and 2006, the price of JWN stock on the New York Stock Exchange more than doubled, going to $49.10 a share at the end of 2006. Nordstrom Inc.'s earnings per share climbed a stylish 85 percent in that period, to $2.55 from $1.38. The company's profit margin also grew to 7.9 percent ? a 44 percent increase over 2004's margin.

Nordstrom's base salary has stayed at about $700,000 over the past three years. But in 2006, he also received a $1.6 million cash bonus, a $1.1 million stock grant, and stock options worth another $615,000. His pension grew in value by close to $600,000.

Nordstrom ? who was in charge of the company's Nordstrom Rack discount division before taking over as CEO in 2000 ? also knows how to bargain shop: He received $92,555 in merchandise discounts.

- Bryan Corliss