Are 'Google etc.' really paying $500k per year now? (opens in new tab)

to a very small number of engineers, maybe. to most of us, no.

Small companies don't always have problems that require $500k engineers. If they do, they shouldn't play in the same tiny pond as Google -- hire remotely or move to a city other than SF or NYC.

I've found his writing about money to be distorted. For another example, see http://blog.samaltman.com/uber-vs-car-ownership . Not exactly wrong, but always off by significant factors. (Imagine having a concrete pricing conversation!) Maybe a consequence of living on funny money since a ~teen? The advice rings right, just... distorted.