Most “successful” founders are broke.
A TechCrunch article is celebrating their $20M Series A, while their personal bank account is barely scraping by.
This is the uncomfortable truth that survivorship bias has hidden from the startup mythology.
Table of Contents
The Numbers
The reality is stark when you look at the data. The average founder salary sits at just $65K—well below market rate for their skill level.
These entrepreneurs face 7-12 years until any potential liquidity event, with only an 11% probability of a meaningful exit.
Meanwhile, their Stanford MBA friends are making $180K or more at McKinsey. With signing bonuses. And guaranteed progression. And actual work-life balance.
Why They Do It
Entrepreneurship is a negative expected value career path for the majority of people who choose it. But founders do it anyway.
Because they’re building the future the rest of us will live in. The 11% who make it create the technologies, companies, and breakthroughs that move humanity forward.
The 89% who don’t still pushed boundaries that others were afraid to cross.
The Reality
Survivorship bias built the startup mythology. We hear about the unicorns, the exits, the success stories. But someone will survive to build tomorrow.
The question isn’t whether most founders will struggle financially—they will. The question is whether you’re willing to sacrifice financial security today for the chance to shape tomorrow.
Ready to join the 11%? The odds are against you, but the impact could be everything.