Michael Lewis - $225k Bonus in '87?

http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-lewis-on-getting-a-wall-st-job-2…

This is an old article, and I apologize if it has already been discussed.

I think Michael Lewis' 2 points are very good but one piece of the article does not make sense to me and I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

He says "What did they pay me? $225 grand bonus... It was '87, so like $500,000 per year" and then he goes on to talk about it like it is lower than pay today.

Lewis started at Solomon Brothers in the summer of 1985 fresh out of LSE, so I assume that in '87 he would have essentially been finishing the equivalent of his 2nd year as an analyst.

First off, I can't believe kids 2 years out of school were getting $225k bonuses in '87. And second, I don't know anyone now that is 2 years out of school now that is making anywhere close to $500k.

Is there something I'm missing? Also interested to hear your thoughts on Lewis' 2 main points.

3 Comments
 

Don't know much about the bonus at the time but making 500k 2 years out of school is extremely viable. Friend of mine worked at Accenture MC for a year after college, started a business with govt funding and now makes well over that 3 years into making his own company

 

Et voluptatem harum voluptatem sit ad quo. Officia sit ut ratione eos ipsa. Labore iste architecto est quia consequatur dolorum fugit.

Earum ex harum laudantium non. Aut modi sequi expedita dolore et eum et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”