Programmer? Nah, programmers have to deliver.

If they have a thousand years of experience promising any wish granted, but no ability to follow through on that promise? They'd be wasted as a programmer. They should be made executive leadership. CTO at least. Maybe CEO.

Although maybe they'd make more by handling investor relations on contract -- e.g. paid a % by seed or Series A investors to handle fundraising in later rounds. Private equity is pretty screwed up these days :(