While that is a good path (the one I took BTW), an exit path could also mean transitioning to a different moderately-lucrative career. Or perhaps even the same career in a different business. I know quite a few people who avoid 90% of tech-industry BS by doing fairly basic kinds of automation and web stuff for other kinds of companies, local governments, or non-profits. They don't make anywhere near unicorn money, of course, but they're still well above median and generally seem happier than other people I know who are still in The Grind. If you already have some savings from those intense years, you can let them compound while the easier job takes care of current expenses.