[sfifs]

It's the risk tolerance intersecting with demand-supply. If you join a startup where you are willing to be underpaid in return for equity which could make you rich at a small probability, you're in a entertainment industry model.

However if you want a salary and comfortable living, you take a salary and don't get a shot at wealth. You could refuse to work on such terms but your company could persumably hire someone else who won't refuse since the supply of risk averse individuals significantly exceeds those who take risk..