WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?, ON ABC NEWS' "20/20," FRIDAY, JANUARY 16

Are CEO's of big companies and some entertainers worth their enormous paychecks? Can a price tag be put on a human life? What happens to your self-worth when your net-worth drops? "20/20" reports on a pressing - and often personal - question, "what are you worth?," FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Reports include:

College: Many people believe a college education guarantees a high-paying job. But the promise of a big payoff from a college diploma can be misleading. And for some students who believed that college education would be a surefire springboard to wealth, it's turned out to be a total lie. What is a college education really worth? John Stossel reports.

CEO Pay: CEOs earning huge salaries while their companies melt down have been hauled before Congress to explain why their pay doesn't match their performance. Is the public outraged because the salaries are so high, or could there be a little envy? Editors from Forbes magazine run the numbers and pick the worst of the worst CEOs, and explain why rich CEOs are reviled by so many while so few resent the millions of dollars high paid Hollywood celebrities receive. Stossel reports.

Price Tag on Life: Can you put a price on human life? One man had to answer that question for the victims of the September 11th attacks. But for the victims' families, accepting that their loved ones have a price tag can be difficult. The government and juries place a price on human life every day. Stossel reports on what it means and how we deal with it.

Salary Secrecy: In our gossipy society where people talk about almost anything, someone's paycheck may be the last bastion of secrecy. Why is it such a taboo? Would the workplace be a fairer, better place if we all knew what our coworkers were making? Are you getting paid more than you are worth or are you making less? And how is this relevant during an economic crisis? Elizabeth Vargas reports.

Self Worth: What happens to your self-worth when your net-worth goes south? For 25 years, Ernie Bjorkman was a TV anchorman in Denver, until he got the ax when his station merged with another. But instead of wallowing in self-pity or depression, he prepared for this day by studying to be a vet technician. Soon, he and his wife will have to learn to live with less, downsizing from a quarter million annual salary to less than $30K. Vargas reports.

Psychological Worth: What are the psychological motives for people wanting more? Bob Brown reports.

"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and John Stossel. David Sloan is executive producer.