Although this sort of scenario sounds like Recent News, it's been going on in the awl bidness for a LONG time. My uncle Don (rest his soul) spent most of his adult life working for Gulf Oil. Then one day in the 70's, he noticed two things - 1., he could retire at that moment on tenure - and 2., consultants to Gulf Oil made far more money that people on staff at his level.
So he "retired" and was immediately "hired" as a consultant to --- Gulf Oil. OK, there was a 6-month gap, which he had pre-planned as a vacation. But during the last 5 years of his productive career, he was a consultant to Gulf and made far more for less work than he ever had as a VP Exploration.
Of course, he was WORTH what Gulf paid him because he had a knack for getting things done ahead of schedule and a sixth sense for knowing the best way to find a reserve and extract it. He was spooky that way.
Michael
He was also worth what Gulf paid him because they no longer had to worry about paying payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and any number of other administrative costs related to their own employees.