Employee compensation is absolutely not associated with the value of the work the employee does.
Instead, it's associated with the best replacement that the company could find.
If Joe makes $2M a year for a company and gets paid $150k but Steve can do the same work at the same level for $100k, Joe's out and Steve's in. The initial $2M of value doesn't matter, except to lower the chance that a replacement could outperform you.
Cynical and unfair? Sure. That's how it works, though. Start your own company if you don't like it.
Instead, it's associated with the best replacement that the company could find.
If Joe makes $2M a year for a company and gets paid $150k but Steve can do the same work at the same level for $100k, Joe's out and Steve's in. The initial $2M of value doesn't matter, except to lower the chance that a replacement could outperform you.
Cynical and unfair? Sure. That's how it works, though. Start your own company if you don't like it.