2010 Startup CEO: "I take no salary - I believe in the venture"

2015 Startup CEO: "I pay myself $1/year - just like Steve Jobs. It worked for him, didn't it?"

2020 Startup CEO: "I pay myself the same as our junior staff because I believe in the people. I'm literally the janitor here."

2025+ Startup CEO: "I pay myself $350,000/year which is in line with the going market rate for talented executives such as myself. We just laid everyone off, which should spike the valuation at which point I'll dump all the stock I hold in the company. I'm so smart and talented. You need me."