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> And if it isn't you should be a millionaire for your risk

What risk? The only risk I've ever had as an engineer at a startup was the risk of losing my job (which everyone has, they just ignore it). And let's be real, a good engineer can find a new job at the drop of a hat. The risk is nil.

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I think the grandparent meant the opportunity cost of foregoing bigco salary and equity, which over a few years can materially add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I believe the parent was talking about the financial risk of being underpaid by a startup by something like $50k–$250k per year of nearly guaranteed income that you would make at BigCo.

But that is silly first you would have to have that BigCo opportunity like actuall offer otherwise it is like I can save 500k by not buying Ferrari. I do not have 500k and that is not how opportunity cost is working.

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