What is it then? Even ignoring the time value of money it would take a guy like Bad~Rodeo's pal Corzine 400 years in office to recoup his $60 million. Sounds like you're using million mom math.
The nice high dollar lobby jobs that come afterward perhaps? BTW their pay doesn't stop when the leave office right? Retirement benifits right? Yea some buy there way in and their investment comes back hundred fold at the end of public office. So why do they need that much pay then?