[ErikAugust]

Right, and to add:

It's an awesome profession: the tiny chance of becoming rich and/or famous coupled with the safe odds of relatively good pay, benefits, job security.

Every other "rich/famous" profession is completely all-or-nothing: actors, musicians, artists, athletes, etc...

[UK-AL]

Many other professions allow you become rich. Too become rich as programmer you need to own some part of the company. You can do that in nearly every proffesion.