Can employees become rich by stealing IP?Uber (for some reason) decided to give Levandowski $250 million to join their team. It just "happens" that he had a drive full of Google self-driving car research. I don't know that Uber paid for the what looks like to me to be industrial espionage, nor did I follow the details of the case or settlement but this has the smell of it.
Live like a king and start over?
Yes, if you think 10 years in jail is living like a king, or you value your life if your IP belongs to the government.
Additionally, court ordered restitution typically places a lien on your property that is not removed by bankruptcy. As for starting over, who would hire you in this situation and place you in a position with access to sensitive IP?
The smart employee used a Limited Liability Company
Your LLC will not shield you from any of this. You can not commit crimes in the name of your LLC. If you have an employee who commits a crime, then you as an owner may be shielded but that does not absolve or protect the employee in any way. In this case you would be held to account personally.
Why are most employees not doing this?
Most people act ethically most of the time and those who are not so inclined fear the rather terrible long term consequences.
can retire by doing such thing one time?
You mean after serving time in prison or are you assuming that our "employee" somehow gets away with it? I personally think if someone sells IP that would be valued in the "retire now" range of value, then they are likely to be discovered in the long run and held to account.
Better hope you like one of the countries with no extradition agreement and bank someplace where your assets can't be frozen.
