[greglindahl]

Yes, it's often the case that "founder" is a label which a company might agree to add or subtract from various people.

As an example, there are tons of startups where not everyone who was there on day 0 is called "founder".

[ekanes]

That is correct. Founder has to do with risk. If you are paid from the start, you're probably not a founder.

[greglindahl]

I know a lot of founders who got paid from the start. That's not the only way that there's risk.

[gumby]

Like Bill Joy: John Gilmore (first employee) was already on board when Joy joined the Sun team.