> If you join early, got plenty of stock options and the startup turns into a unicorn, those millions are totally possible. lets take this bit by bit. First,

> If you join early, got plenty of stock options and the startup turns into a unicorn, those millions are totally possible. lets take this bit by bit. First, you need to have a decent % of the company. At each raise your share of the company will dilute. So you might have 1% at join, but by series d its been diluted in % as well as seniority. You reach unicorn status,but the company isn't making money. So it might take on debt. Eventually you then IPO. You either have your options converted to real stock (for a fee) and a covenant saying that if you leave before x, you'll have to hand back those shares. or if you are lucky you might be able to sell after say 6 months (super rare) so after n years, you are able to sell your 10k in ordinary shares. But in 2024 there were 21 IPOs. The chances of IPO are vanishingly small.