I was cleaning out an old bookshelf and came across this 2003 Grizzly catalog. Coincidentally, I'd just received a 2023 mailer. I was shocked by the increases in price.
Some highlights:
Standard 14" band saw: $375 vs. $800
Standard 6" jointer: $400 vs. $900
4-piece Bessey K-body clamp set: $150 vs. $350
I know nothing about how inflation works, so I'm not sure whether this tracks with the price of bread or whatever, but it was eye-opening.
I'd be surprised if Grizzly's CEO were making that kind of multiplier vs. the average employee.
I think some of it might be Grizzly gaining legitimacy as a power tool manufacturer. Their earlier reputation (deserved or not) would have been closer to that of Harbor Freight's today. Now they're known to be a solid brand and they can charge a little more.
That doesn't account for the Besseys, which are off the fuckin' wall.
It's privately owned, so impossible to say. Revenue estimates are between 100 And $500m annually. Even if the owner doesn't draw much salary they likely retained most of not all ownership of the company unless they had to cut in others to grow since founding. They look older so may be close to selling and cashing out(going public) for their generational paycheck, or might keep it in the family if they want, either way their compensation will be perversely inflated vs. what employees make, it's just the way the system is designed.