What If We Actually Valued CTOs Like We Value Athletes?

I stayed up late last night with this question rattling around in my brain: Why do we know the exact market value of every NBA player but have no idea what a CTO is actually worth?

Think about it. LeBron James has a publicly known net worth. His career earnings are tracked. His endorsement deals are analyzed. Fantasy leagues assign point values to his every move. There's an entire ecosystem built around quantifying athletic value.

Meanwhile, the CTO who built the infrastructure that lets millions watch LeBron's highlights? Their value is a mystery, hidden behind NDAs and whispered numbers at coffee shops.

We've built a world that runs on technology but refuses to transparently value the humans who build it.

The Cognitive Conquest That Started This

Last week, a CTO friend called me. He'd just been offered a role at a Series B startup. "Am I worth what they're offering?" he asked.

I couldn't answer him. Not really.

Sure, I could point to salary surveys (outdated by the time they're published). I could reference what "similar" CTOs make (as if any two CTOs are similar). But I couldn't tell him his actual value - the cumulative worth of everything he's built, the companies he's scaled, the teams he's inspired, the problems he's conquered.

That conversation sent my brain on fire. What if we could actually calculate this?

Beyond the Paycheck Illusion

Here's the thing nobody talks about: Your salary is probably the least interesting part of your value as a CTO.

I've watched CTOs take $150K salaries and create $500M in company value. I've seen others pull down $800K while their companies crater. The paycheck tells you nothing about the conquest, the creation, the actual value generated.

What if we measured:

• Every company you've touched and how it grew under your technical leadership
• The earning trajectory you've created for yourself over decades, not just this year
• The intangible assets you carry - your ability to recruit, innovate, influence

What if being "#247 on the CTO1000" meant something real? Something that followed you, validated you, gave you leverage in every conversation?

The Rankings That Actually Matter

Imagine logging in and seeing:

• Your total career valuation (not just current comp)
• How you rank among ALL technical leaders globally
• Your trajectory - are you climbing or plateauing?
• Recognition in categories that matter: The Rising 50 (under 40), The Builders (actively scaling), The Innovators (pure technical excellence)

Suddenly, that CTO in Salt Lake City building something revolutionary isn't invisible just because they're not in the Bay Area. The technical leader who took three companies from seed to exit gets credit for all three conquests, not just the latest.

Why This Breaks My Brain (In the Best Way)

This isn't about ego. Well, not entirely.

It's about finally having a language for value that isn't tied to your current company's board dynamics or your negotiation skills in one particular moment.

It's about young CTOs being able to point to their Rising 50 ranking when VCs doubt they're ready.

It's about experienced builders getting credit for the decades of value they've created, not just their current title.

It's about making the invisible visible.

The Part That Makes My Heart Race

What excites me most is that we would completely change how technical leaders think about their careers.

Instead of optimizing for the highest salary today, you'd optimize for maximum career value creation. Instead of hiding your worth behind false modesty, you'd know exactly where you stand. Instead of feeling like you're starting over with each role, your cumulative value would compound.

The conquest isn't just building the ranking system. It's changing how an entire industry values its builders.

Here's My Ask

I've spent weeks modeling this out. Formulas, calculations, verification systems, the whole nine yards. The framework exists. The math works. The concept is sound.

But before I build this thing (and yes, my brain is already solving for how), I need to know: Does this make your pulse quicken like it does mine?

If you're a CTO who wants to know your actual value...

If you're tired of compensation being this weird secret nobody discusses...

If you believe technical leaders deserve the same transparent valuation as athletes and executives...

Hit reply and tell me: "I want in."

Tell me what would make this valuable for you. Tell me what rankings would matter. Tell me if you'd submit your data to be part of the first CTO1000.

Because here's the truth: We can keep pretending that technical leadership value is unmeasurable, or we can do something about it.

I know which conquest I'm choosing.

Who's with me?

P.S. - If you're thinking "but my value can't be reduced to a number" - you're right. Neither can LeBron's. But that hasn't stopped us from trying, and the attempt itself has transformed how we understand athletic excellence. Why shouldn't technical excellence get the same treatment?