Per public online sources, it’s estimated that TK earned over $50mn working at Broadcom. He probably has over $100mn, so it’s perplexing why someone would throw away such a lucrative pay package, lifestyle and the possibility of running a much larger company (VMware) than what he is doing now, at such a big pay cut. Was he unhappy about something? Is being CEO that important when he’s become a pawn of PE firms? Was he tricked by PE and what does this tell us about his judgement? Maybe he thinks he has more autonomy now but it doesn’t seem like things are going as originally laid out. What rationale does he use to comfort and excuse himself? Has he realized his mistake? Is it too late but he has no other option? Has he considered walking away? Has his ego stopped him from quitting? At what point will his ruined reputation change his behavior? Perhaps he’s already past the breaking point and see’s no other option but to double down on his valiant effort to become a heroic CEO so he can lead other companies? Does he have some secret ambition to make his own PE firm after this failed experiment? Maybe he gambled all his earnings away and is stuck here like the rest of us? I hear that he doesn’t sleep. Has that driven him mad? Maybe we should pity him…
Does anyone pity him?