> I can't imagine the mindset that would lead someone to sacrifice their entire existence on the pyre of working; what's the point of making big cash if you've got no time or people to enjoy it with?

For most people who do it, it's a few-year long stint that will leave them with a chunk of money in the bank, a top business school admission, and a resume line-item that will parlay into a nice corporate finance or management gig. And if you're good at the job, working at a top bank or consulting firm is still the most direct route into the C-suite at an established company.