It's a bit of an unfair comparison. Usually the certain kind of people that have what it takes (however likely it may be) to "get rich" from their sweat equity are also likely to command very high salaries at top companies (in tech or investment banking). The former is a much riskier proposition, of course, and the end result might have looked similar when you take in account dilution and the like.

As a founder, that dynamic completely changes, of course.