[manigandham]

>> Take an arbitrary dude off the street and give them the experience of a CEO

That experience takes decades of results to earn which is precisely why they're worth so much. Of course it's meaningless if you can magically train anyone else that easily.

>> at most lose the company 40% of growth/whatever

That would put most companies out of business. Would you like your employer to lose 40% of their staff?

>> nobody is 100x more efficient than anyone else

Yes they are, you just haven't worked with them. The networks and wisdom the top people build up is what helps them lead companies and make decisions for 1000s of employees with billions at stake. What they can do with a few phone calls can easily surpass the output of 100 startups.

This article is also talking about the TOP companies which obviously requires top talent. This is nowhere near the average and these salaries reflect the immense stress and responsibility that comes with the job. If you think you can lead a company this large that easily then you really do not understand what the position entails.