[mstaoru]

Startup founders often decide their own salaries. With a limited capital, it makes sense to invest it into hiring the best talent and doing the best marketing, paying yourself a minimum viable amount to survive. If the startup works out, there is a big payout in the end. Paying yourself less, you increase the likelihood of everything working out.

Also, as an intangible benefit, having less cushy life puts you in a more aggressive mindset which is important.