In Atlassian's case the salaries of founders probably add up to around $3m, which is insignificant next to the $4+b value of their shares. Also, high salaries

In Atlassian's case the salaries of founders probably add up to around $3m, which is insignificant next to the $4+b value of their shares. Also, high salaries for founders is an issue only when the founders did not fund their own business. You're right, in a startup, funded by VC, that pays the founders significantly more salary than their employees, is a lot less equitable compared to a bootstrapped startup funded by the founders' credit cards, or a VC funded startup that pays its founders little. In the latter cases, the founders take a lot more risk, and so their reward, should their startup succeed, would be a lot more "deserved".