The frustration is that most of us will never be the highest-paid technologists, and also it doesn't look like modelling takes much effort.

It's frustrating that luck is such a huge component of life quality.

I think it’s much easier to be a high paid technologist than it is to be a high paying model. Both are difficult, no doubt, but there are vastly, if not infinitely many more models who are barely scraping by earning almost nothing.

I knew of one “talent” agency that was trying to get early on the Instagram model phase who had employed no fewer than 100 absolutely stunning girls who each were barely averaging a couple thousand followers. At least as a no name at FAANG I would have a cushy salary.

The vast majority of OnlyFans models make at most a couple hundred dollars a year.

Those who do grab a spot at the tail end of the power distribution work at it almost literally constantly.

Obviously luck does play a role, but that applies as much to native intelligence as it does to... other assets.

Yeah for top tier in a lucrative industry this isn't surprising, and in fact low as you mention. For most of them this is only one revenue stream.

ugh, no programmer is making $700k a MONTH from programming alone

People don't get paid a salary like that. If you are a founder or in the right startup with a good compensation package, it can happen.

what would they have to do in addition? Maybe: have good business skills, networking skills, be independent, be in the right position to spot the right opportunities at the right time?

They did say an order of magnitude more. So $7m a month...

You’d be surprised how much work goes into operating with that many subscribers. Top funnel, attrition, constant harassment, stolen content, fan requests, just to name some obvious ones.