[JumpCrisscross]

> you dont get rich at a startup by working for one, only by being a founder or an investor

I’ve written small (<$50k) Series A cheques into companies where employee no. 20 made more than I did. That’s fine. They invested a hell of a lot more and put much more on the line. Options shouldn’t be counted on. They’re high risk. But no need to be that cynical. Plenty of people want the ones they were in the trenches with to win big when they do.

[ricardobeat]

I bet that employee didn’t have 50k in cash to invest in extremely high risk equity. Even people making 200k/year wouldn’t consider 50k a small amount (it’s almost half of your net). A higher-than-average salary is quite different from “getting rich”.

[JumpCrisscross]

> A higher-than-average salary

Sorry, I meant on exit. They built up more equity over the years through employment and cashed out. This wasn’t a blockbuster exit either.