Even very early these days won't get you much. Just a bit of a lump sum you could apply to your 401k/RRSP or whatever and inch you ahead by 5-10 years on retirement. If you got it early enough in your life (20s, 30s) that it can gain interest. VCs and founders are writing stock option agreements these days with very low ownership stakes for even very early employees.

Back in the early y2ks, and late 90s, yes, you could get rich and be up and out if you were lucky and played your cards right. Those days are done.