phd and academia is a terrible career choice of you want to be wealthy. even most "rich professors" could make much more in industry. this career only makes sense once you factor in the value of working on your own interesting and diverse problems, being surrounded by curious and intelligent people, while enjoying the freedom of developing your research into whatever direction you please. and this starts as a phd student. if, as an academic, you ever feel like you don't have most of these benefits, while not making enough money to get by, you should leave.