<p>Software or web-related startup, IPO, cash your chips and retire.</p>
<p>Actually, an acquisition is much more likely than an IPO. Still, those who are truly skilled at combining business and technology can take an idea and turn it into 20-50 million in less than 5 years. Not that it is a common occurence, but the probability of success is real enough that it may be worth pursuing if you have what it takes.</p>
<p>Crime still seems to be easier, more likely to actually happen, and probably more fulfilling. Do you have any serious moral hang-ups?</p>
<p>If one gets a bachelor’s in say, computer science, would it be more beneficial to his career and paycheck to get a master’s in the same field or get an MBA instead?</p>
<p>Both would have their benefits. But the only reason to get an MBA is to network, not for the actual education. So don’t get an MBA unless it’s at a top college where you are networking with money. Stanford, MIT, Harvard. Otherwise, the grad degree in CS is better. Google was founded by CS grad students while they were still students.</p>
<p>Exxon mobile owner is a civil engineer. Create a firm and expand it. I do not mean to make this sound easy. Corporations like to eat little guys like you.</p>