> What banker got a “ski jolly” here?

Well, this guy for one:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/03/10/svb-fin...

... and that trade will certainly be investigated. If the trade was not part of an existing trading plan, it's highly likely the CEO will have some very uncomfortable conversations.

How is selling stock tantamount to a government bailout?

Ill be glad to have an uncomfortable conversation for a few million dollars.

The "uncomfortable conversation" can mean a conversation about breaking insider trading regulations, the penalties for which include huge fines and potentially jail time.

> the CEO will have some very uncomfortable conversations.

Oh no! Not uncomfortable conversations! Anything but that! Maybe it will be followed up with a strongly worded letter with an implied threat of a performative vote by Congress. How will they cope?! They might even have to show up at a gasp House committee hearing! shudders

Wake me when someone is convicted.

So edgy. Let’s just bypass investigations and go directly into summary execution. Eat the rich!!!!!

"Wake me when someone is convicted" isn't an "eat the rich" statement. The OPs point is that an "uncomfortable conversation" isn't a punishment for wrongdoing, such as insider trading.

That happened before the fdic got involved. If it turns out he was hiding something, the SEC might get involved but otherwise he was fully allowed to sell his own stock based compensation. That's how stock based compensation works.