of course they wanted, and it might still be a good deal for them long term. But compared to market rates, the USD/hour is smaller in Tesla than at most tech companies. Musk makes up the difference with PR: he sales the job so well that people are willing to take a paycut to work there. Nothing wrong with that, also nothing wrong with being convinced to spend more on a car than you need too, in fact I think most Americans do anyway...
From my experience, and personal contacts that have both joined and left SpaceX, this is the case.
These comments never made any sense. A job at Tesla is not akin to Slavery. But most people act like it is. Why?