The Mexican fisherman story [1] is what it comes down to for me. You can work a little, play a little, and generally have a good time with life and get by (Mexican fisherman), or you can start a business, work long hours, build a fleet of boats that makes a ton of money, and then sell it all someday when you retire, at which point you can work a little, play a little, and generally have a good time. (American businessman).

For me, I make enough to get by and then some. Yes I could work harder, but life is pretty good this way.

[1] https://bemorewithless.com/the-story-of-the-mexican-fisherma...

The addendum is the Mexican fisherman doesn't have money in the bank if his boat gets destroyed in a freak storm, nor does he have enough to cover the insurance. He's also not taking care of his family or prepared if some oil company drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has a spill that completely destroys his livelihood. In fact the fleet of boats could effectively gain enough money to lobby the local government to set limits on fishing by private boats, setting the per boat fees more than the single fisherman could afford. None of what I've said has no legitimately happened to fishermen. I know it's analogy but the analogy fails on so many levels because it doesn't include preparing for external risks or things you can't control.

Or on the other side, the American businessman has ruined his health/personal relationships by overwork so that he can't enjoy the freedom he bought for himself. Or even more likely, can't bring himself to make the leap into the void and walk away from money, status and security and continues to burn away the little healthy youth he has left remaining working in the job he can't give up.

Not all job that pays more requires you to sacrifice your life. I would even argue the other ways that jobs that pay more usually require less from you, leaving you with more time to be with yourself and your family.

This has been my experience. The more money that I make, the more promotions that I see, even in face of the additional responsibilities, the more autonomy I enjoy.

Yea, but we're talking a tech job here, not working as a barista at your local artisan coffee shop.

Changing jobs to get more pay doesn't neccessarily means you have to work harder though.

The money isn't that great if you are miserable and your kids spend it after your funeral

That will happen to your money after your funeral regardless.

Not like you have any more use for it yourself.

Not if you have lower income and a job that makes you happier, which was the question up above.

> Where do all of those people come from?

Mostly (though not exclusively) from high-paying high-cost of living US metropolitan areas.

London, Switzerland and some of the major Asian cities can also play in this league.

You’re not living the same lifestyle. Take a few international trips every year or live in or near a tier 1 city, or pay for a nice private school for the kids. Dinner and drinks out at non-fancy places is easy $100/person in a big city, vacations are $2k+ per person, private schools are $20k+ easy.