>I've repeated this many many many times. You don't work at a startup to maximize your net worth. You'd be better off working almost anywhere else and come out on average with a higher net worth.

100% agree. The experience gained was the invaluable part of working at a startup. That said, every startup I've talked to pitches the equity as the big thing, and not the experience. I.e. "...and these options would be worth X at our current valuation."