It does make me interested to hear what, if any, investments this person made. Inflation means $5M was worth more in 1949 than in 1989, but investments can (and often do) beat inflation. So, assuming one invests successfully, one could work in 1949 for the 1949 equivalent of today's $125,000, continue on until 1989 with inflation-adjusted pay but no raises, and end up with $5M in 1989. In any case, that would, as you say, be very different from a normal job.