Here is the thing... Person A and B create system X that is responsible for some % increase in revenue. Person A and B should be compensated well, so they don

Here is the thing... Person A and B create system X that is responsible for some % increase in revenue. Person A and B should be compensated well, so they don't go over there and create system Y. Especially given the FTC might be clamping down on non-competes, this is a plausible scenario. Person A and B eventually tired of maintaining system X, so they bring in new people. The new people, once they have earned the trust of persons A and B are now the successors. The successors should also be paid well for the same reasons. Scale this up, and you get the salaries. I know this because I spent my career becoming the new persons A and B, and the bean counters always hated people like me. The salaries are thus well deserved, but that is why the companies are trying to create electronic slaves that can be driven by a few persons A and B.