It is based on observations I made when working closely
with four leaders that I consider extraordinary: Ed
Catmull (Pixar’s founder), Steve Jobs (Pixar’s CEO), John
Lasseter (Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer), and Bob Iger
(Disney’s CEO).
So, "extraordinary" in the sense of being extraordinarily unprofitable.
The question is if the money those companies saved by illegally depressing wages was greater than the $415 million cost of the settlement, plus the bad press of the criminal investigation by the DOJ.
I don't think it is as clear cut as this comment makes out. What they did was come to an illegal agreement not to poach employees from each other. There are multiple reasons why that could be good for a company, and I doubt 'reducing wages' is close to the top of that list.
But ethics are important in leadership - I just think the case here isn't as simple as it is made out.
Both parts of the thing you were replying to seem relevant to me.