She probably won't be able, like most athletes, to do this until regular retirement age. So why not make the most of it now. She can always go back into research if she felt like it after she can retire for life.

Yeah, had I the potential to do the same, I’d grab the chance in a heartbeat. It’s both much more lucrative as well as comfortable, allowing working from home or in midst of traveling, or whatever. The flexibility alone would be enough to convince me. Assuming they have the audience already and not just jumping in cold.

They’ll probably make at least tenfold the money I’ll be making in my entire lifetime, in a couple of years. Certainly more than academics would.

People here worried about the long term? As if getting a phd and working in academics would ever bring them the money they’ll likely make in a couple of years. If anything, this is the move to make if one is concerned about the long term, especially financially. They’ll be able to retire, probably very early, unlike your average academic.

Anyone making this very choice, I.e being smart enough for a phd but choosing something else, will have thought about the future and all that comes with it. With sensible investing and whatever, they’ll probably be sailing towards a very comfortable life.

Why would anyone think choosing the phd would be the more long-term sensible choice? Academics is the same as being a nurse or a teacher: it’s a passion choice. Not a smart choice. Not everything has to be smart either. But it’s certainly going to be so much more future-proof in general.