Is making VP at ~40 worth it?

Assuming one starts as an Associate at 35, is waiting to hit VP worth it? Would the next 4 years be pure misery and little time for the wife or potential kids? Is VP where it gets so much better and can actually have the weekends off?

Are there better careers for someone in their mid 30s looking for high earnings potential without the slowness of working in industry / Corp Dev but also without getting burned out as an Associate?

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