Four years ago, former FBI Director Louis Freeh was on the verge of being hired by Volkswagen to run its diesel emissions litigation—work for which he wanted a guaranteed $15 million over three years, plus 10% of the “savings the company and its subsidiaries yield and/or the costs saved by settlements,” according to a draft engagement letter.

In the end, he didn’t get the job—nor did VW bite a year later when he suggested that the automaker “keep me in mind for any future role, such as a monitor.”