> I have to wonder if seeing SV startups go to multi-billion dollar companies on a regular basis, has given CEOs in other industries a case of envy.

If so, they're learning the wrong lessons. SV unicorns become valuable because of explosive growth, not because they underpay their engineers. Just the opposite; a lot of engineers at SV startups are paid quite handsomely (especially the early ones at successful unicorns). SV startups don't win on cost-cutting.