Ask HN: Value of working at a large company, is my calculation correct?

I was conversing with a friend about working at a large company after the initial burst of growth was over and the founders had left. How much sense does it make as an engineer?

Let's take the example of Microsoft. Let's take 2002 as the start time and 2022 as the end time.

The total valuation of Microsoft between the phase has changed from 276.63 billion(2002) to 1.787 Trillion(2022). Inflation-adjusted, 276.63 Billion from 2002 is 455 Billion in 2022. The total value gain is 1.332 T .

The total salary given to employees in this period is let's suppose 250000$ avg salary * 125000 employees * 20 = 625 Billion $ (This number is possibly around 500 Billion but let's assume this is the number given there are other employee-related expenses like office space, parties, gym, etc). We also have to assume that the salaries paid come from the company's revenue and value produced. So the actual value produced is 1.332 T + 625 B = 1.957 T $.

So the percentage of value given to employees is 625/1957 * 100 = 31%.

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Conclusion 1: IF investors and founders who don't work in the company own more than 69% of the company, you are better off working for Microsoft.

Conclusion 2: If you are a good worker, you give 69% of what you produce to get the semblance of security and salary at Microsoft.

Conclusion 3: If you are a startup founder, you better have made much more cash than the top 5% of employees at Microsoft before giving away 69% of the company to investors.

Reference: https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/