How Much I Made at Amazon in 18 Years (As a Principal Engineer)

Summary

In this insightful video, the presenter shares their financial journey during their tenure at Amazon, detailing significant salary increases and stock investments while reflecting on personal growth and family life. Despite earning over $700,000, they emphasize feeling 'not rich,' attributing their success to automated savings and invaluable learning experiences. The video also touches on the challenges of balancing work and family as they prepare to leave Amazon for content creation. Ultimately, the presenter encourages viewers to make smart choices for their own careers and financial futures.

Takeaways

• 💼 The speaker's salary increased significantly during their tenure at Amazon, reflecting a strong career growth.
• 📉 Despite a high income, the speaker experienced substantial losses due to a drop in Amazon's stock value.
• 👶 Personal life events, such as the birth of children, impacted the speaker's work-life balance and decision-making.
• 🔄 The speaker automated savings and bill payments, which helped them manage their finances effectively.
• 💡 Professional growth at Amazon was valued highly, with the speaker appreciating the learning opportunities and engineering talent.
• 🤔 The speaker grappled with the feeling of wealth, stating they never felt truly rich despite high earnings.
• 🚀 Planning for a career transition was influenced by life changes and reflections during paternity leave.
• 🏢 The speaker acknowledges that Amazon is not a perfect company but still views it as a great place for career development.
• 🤞 The speaker encourages younger professionals to seek luck through smart choices and opportunities.
• 📺 The speaker invites viewers to check out another video detailing their income streams, emphasizing transparency in financial discussions.

Q & A

What was the speaker's total income in 2022 and how was it broken down?

In 2022, the speaker made a total income of $420,000, which consisted of a base salary of $224,000 and $195,000 from vested stock.

How did the speaker's stock investments perform over the years?

The speaker's stock investments faced significant volatility. They initially invested in Amazon shares at a high price, but by 2022, the stock price had tumbled almost 50%, affecting their overall income.

What personal life event influenced the speaker's work-life balance in 2023?

In 2023, the speaker had another child, which shifted their family dynamics from managing one child to two, significantly impacting their time and energy.

What did the speaker mean by 'I never felt rich' despite high earnings?

The speaker indicated that even with increasing income, they did not perceive themselves as 'rich' because they prioritized savings, investments, and automated bill payments, which kept their available cash lower.

What major decision did the speaker make while on paternity leave in 2023?

While on paternity leave in 2023, the speaker resolved to quit their job at Amazon, indicating a shift towards pursuing content creation full-time.

What was the speaker's projected income for 2024 before leaving Amazon?

In 2024, the speaker projected they would have made $732,000, consisting of a base salary of $270,000 and $462,000 from stock that was set to vest.

What key lesson did the speaker learn from their experience at Amazon?

The speaker learned the importance of growth and experience over mere financial compensation, highlighting that the skills and knowledge gained were invaluable.

How did the speaker handle their finances throughout their career?

The speaker automated their finances by moving money to retirement savings and investments automatically and signing up for auto-pay on bills, which allowed them to spend money without focusing on their paycheck.

What does the speaker hope for younger individuals in similar situations?

The speaker hopes that younger individuals can find similar luck in their careers and encourages them to make smart choices to create opportunities for themselves.

What sentiment did the speaker express about possibly returning to Amazon in the future?

The speaker expressed a sense of nostalgia for their time at Amazon and left open the possibility that they might return to the company one day.