Exactly. I doubt I would be able to make that kind of money. My dilemma is that it seems like someone needs to be missing some moral scruples to guarantee that kind of personal financial success. I admit that I have met people who made millions the honest way, but most of the millionaires that I know certainly did not. I am not the type to backstab, lie, and cheat to claw my way up the corporate ladder to the place where I can buy my own light jet. Perhaps the largest contributing factor to my departure from management was the fact that another mid-level manager was undermining me to make himself look better. I don't want to play that game. I left middle school a long time ago. Two of the millionaires that I know told me that I was "too honest" and I would get eaten alive.
Meanwhile, "leadership" for some of the companies that you listed above have taken massive bonuses while their companies, employees, and investors all suffer huge losses. That's not my style. Short-sighted profit schemes will not make me happy. My conscience is too loud. I would be one of those guys who got fired for not "doing what it takes" (meaning something unsavory) to increase profits. Just as there are many pilots angry and disillusioned about greedy and/or incompetent airline execs, I feel disillusioned about what it takes to be "successful" in the business world. It seems the conventional thinking is so short sighted - make money NOW, no matter what. (And look what that has done to the world economy!)
I know that the airline life is hard. But at least my cell phone won't be ringing with everyone's crises every time I am with my family. Compared to what I did for ten years, I'm certain it will be less stress.
I agree that I need to finish my MBA as a fall-back plan though.

Thanks again.