Conversation

Andy Matuschak
@andy_matuschak
This question's gauche, but: given the prevalence of $400k++ comp packages for ~30-year-olds in Big Tech, why aren't there lots more "gentle[wo]man scholars"? i.e. people quitting to do non-remunerative creative projects I can think of some, but shouldn't there be thousands?
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Andy Matuschak
@andy_matuschak
Yes, even those comp packages wouldn't permit this as a single earner with a family of four; some people have debt; etc. But I'd still expect more of this? Most people I know in a position do this tend to instead a) increase lifestyle; b) become founders; or c) become a VC.
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Andy Matuschak
@andy_matuschak
Caveat Tweet: this is a descriptive question, not a normative one! Not saying people have made the wrong choice, just curious why the "gentle[wo]man scholar" choice is not more popular. Also should mention that I am not in this category—didn't stick around Big Tech long enough.
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joe kim🗽
@joekim91
do you mean quitting after a few years of $400K comp? I think it is happening - non-insignificant portion of my peers in between jobs spending time doing things they love Often $400K isn't solely cash comp and thus requires some length of tenure (golden handcuffs)
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joe kim🗽
@joekim91
Replying to
@andy_matuschak
I think people are doing this! And I think will happen more and more now that you don't have to live in the bay area to be an L4/L5 at google
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David Thomas Bernal
@davidtbernal
Replying to
@andy_matuschak
and
@joekim91
I think it’s just not as easy as you’re suggesting. $2m after 5 years means you’re somehow saving 100% of your gross salary. I think it’s more realistic to save 100-200k of after tax money, but that now takes 10-20 years to get to $2m, which is just retiring in your 40s-50s.
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