The economics of working at a pre-IPO company that will likely have a successful IPO and a 20+ year post-IPO company are also very different.
Where did I hear this before? Very few people feel that a specific amount is ever enough.
A friend made mid-8 figures after exit and became a highschool math teacher.
In general: if money was everything, wouldn't the top faculty in every top school be quitting and joining FAANGs ? Who would want a professor's job, making a mid-level SWE amount?