[curun1r]

Whether they were funded or bootstrapped, they did a lot of speculative work or fundraising that someone earning a paycheck from day 1 didn't. It's not about working hard, it's a willingness to take risks. The person asking the question wasn't willing to take risks. They've got the $6500/mo mortgage and the comfortable life with almost zero risk. They were compensated as a wage earner rather than an investor.

Yes, working that way will come with equity, but it's table scraps rather than a full meal. If you want the full meal, you need to work on something before the company is anything. If you wait until they can pay you, that's your compensation.