This. I'd feel furious if I was not offered equity (even with a good comp package) at a company that eventually sold for this much after being told equity is no

This. I'd feel furious if I was not offered equity (even with a good comp package) at a company that eventually sold for this much after being told equity is not an effective form of compensation because they're never going to sell. Well, they broke that promise and the hundreds of millions of dollars that would be going to employees is not. This is a great example of why we have no middle class and why upward mobility in the US is so difficult. These employees were lied to that equity would never be worth anything so that their slimey bosses can keep it all for themselves.