Note: this is under the assumption that this scales down to the individual level. The idea that a good developer can earn a company $3m isn't unreasonable: it's

Note: this is under the assumption that this scales down to the individual level. The idea that a good developer can earn a company $3m isn't unreasonable: it's the idea that the developer is doing it on their own that is incorrect. There are many other people involved in magnifying the value of what a software developer creates. Conversely, it's also quite possible for a software developer to cause a company to lose $3 million .. and again, it's a question of amplification. :)