Can startup founders ever pay themselves 300k+ salaries?

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Sure, once they start turning a profit they can pay themselves whatever they want, so long as the board approves the decision. (they might very well be the board)

If they’re operating on invested funds, then they’re going to be expected to minimize burn rate. A $300k salary is going to signal to investors that the founder isn’t trying to build a sustainable business, rather just get rich at their expense.