The article highlights the financial benefits of working at large technology companies versus early-stage startups. While starting a job at a giant tech firm like Facebook can offer a significant salary, such as $200,000/year, it's noted that Meta stock has grown exponentially over two years, making some employees potentially wealthy due to their annual refreshers. In contrast, many of the other major tech companies hired by graduates also did well. However, working at an early-stage startup offers a unique opportunity for extraordinary returns, with some startups becoming unicorns and resulting in 100X or greater returns for early employees. Despite the risks, thorough due diligence and strong conviction can help tilt the odds in favor of joining a successful startup, making it a high-stakes game of calculated risk-taking.