Because of the nature of their businesses Zuckerberg and Pincus didn't need serious amounts of money nearly as early. Of course they took VC money, but they didn't need it so early, so desperately nor did need so much of it.
As his $700 severance package demonstrates, the guy just didn't care about money. That's admirable and I think he's awesome for it - but when it comes to whether or not you can be fired from your own company, it's foolish.
He got outplayed by smarter and savvier businessmen who had been down this road many times before.
