3 ms·

> takes a pay cut to $200,000, I'll donate. Why $200,000, why not $100,000?

• jessaustin 7y ago
  Not OP, but here's a possibility: In the last month I've spoken with numerous people who earn $200k/yr. I'm not sure I've spoken with someone who earns Khan's salary in the last year. (There is one guy who probably earns that in good years, but I'm not sure the last year has been a "good" one.) That is, regardless of whatever rarefied Silicon Valley filter bubble we're pretending exists here on HN, Khan is not raising money from Silicon Valley. He is raising it from the world, and a very low percentage of humans earn $800k/yr. Granted, however, this is not just a problem with Khan Academy. Many "non-profits" pay their executives unreasonable salaries.
• woofie11 7y ago
  $200k is about the threshold needed to qualify for a mortgage in the area he's living for a comfortable, but not luxurious single-family home. That's also a good baseline for a standard-of-living where all necessities are met, without worrying about them, and where there isn't financial stress. However, it's not enough to get rich. It's also a point where I don't feel like I'm making a significantly greater sacrifice than Khan would if he paid out of his own pocket (in other words, a signal that I care more about the organization than he does). $100k would be okay in the midwest or rural America.