> He probably makes a decent amount more from speaking and conferences
As someone who speaks at conferences regularly with a resume similar to his, I can tell you this probably not true. Tech conferences don't usually pay well if at all. Possibly for a keynote speaker but even then not much.
Most conferences I've spoken at don't even pay for you travel and hotel, never mind additional amounts on top of that. They expect your employer to pay for travel and hotel just as they would if you were a regular attendee.
I will say that 100% of conferences have had a free pass that gets you into all the talks and usually a catered lunch, snacks, and coffee in the "speaker lounge".
As someone who speaks at conferences regularly with a resume similar to his, I can tell you this probably not true. Tech conferences don't usually pay well if at all. Possibly for a keynote speaker but even then not much.
Most conferences I've spoken at don't even pay for you travel and hotel, never mind additional amounts on top of that. They expect your employer to pay for travel and hotel just as they would if you were a regular attendee.
I will say that 100% of conferences have had a free pass that gets you into all the talks and usually a catered lunch, snacks, and coffee in the "speaker lounge".