Advice needed: Intern at exploding startup vs. return to school

I work for a tiny Silicon Valley startup that is likely about to make it big. I won't say why, but I'm privy to almost all communications, and the big players we've been talking to lately and the interest they've communicated tells me a lot, and I think there is a strong likelyhood this company will likely have a few million at least within a year, with further potential beyond that. I've been there for 5 months as an intern breaking even financially at less than $9 dollars an hour. They have trusted me with so many things, and I've done so many little things that are hard to put a value on, from product design to dealing directly with customers, building and manning a booth at trade shows, to marketing and web design, to literally modifying the early products, packaging and shipping them. I got an immense spike in traffic awhile back (10,000pageview/day - which earned the first online sale) and I have personally interacted with so many different potential buyers. I pleased our first and only refundee to reconsider, and they will likely be buying more in the future.

They all really like me. I've gone beyond what they've expected of me. The CEO has already told me he wants me to remain their full-time since I know the product better than anyone else. I am literally his right-hand man (okay, slave :P) fixing every tiny problem he can't do himself (website, his phone, you name it). My boss has already told me if it made it "Apple big... or maybe not THAT big..." that I would be completely taken-care of. I understand skepticism to such a statement, and with anyone else I wouldn't think much of it, but he built a successful business of 20 years before this and is one of the most stand-up guy's I've ever known. I know and trust his character very well; I have faith in almost nothing, and I have faith in him.

My dilemma is I'm supposed to return to school this upcoming spring quarter far away in a different city. I'm at a very critical point, and I've already pushed finishing school back a few years, so I'm in my mid-20s, and the heat from my family (and myself) to finish school is strong.

I would very much like to remain working with this company considering it's potential upside, but I'm not sure how to ask whether staying around would be worth my while. This won't get "Apple-big," but it is definitely a potentially amazing opportunity that could rocket me places a degree would never really offer. Worst case scenario, I return to school a few months later.

While the experience and potential foot in the ground floor of a new technology is great and all, my shit wage isn't going to do it for me.

I would really like to get somewhere around $15/hour for the time being, but I would't consider staying around if the possible BIG upside weren't a big factor. Really, how do I ask for more 'reassurance' for putting my education (and life) on hold for a bit to help make this great? My father has advised trying to get profit-sharing / stock, but I don't really know how to ask for that.

Any advice would be awesome.