The article says "After busting your butt for two years on a startup salary -- and suddenly you have the chance to become a rich hotshot with a big job in a big company -- wouldn't you?"
I'm assuming that some/many entrepreneurs would rather work on their startups instead of working in "a big job in a big company".
I'm not necessarily suggesting that one is better than the other or commenting on Mint in particular, but I think that the reporter is mistaken in his assumption that people would always choose a big job in a big company.
His deal seems particularly attractive given this new information. One can imagine that he has been working 100-120 hour weeks, has no external life. Now he has buckage, gets to continue doing what he did over the last two years, and gets to run something similar. Given that he still gets to work on his startup, what is not to like?
I'm assuming that some/many entrepreneurs would rather work on their startups instead of working in "a big job in a big company". I'm not necessarily suggesting that one is better than the other or commenting on Mint in particular, but I think that the reporter is mistaken in his assumption that people would always choose a big job in a big company.