Airline pilot vs Lottery

When I was hired at UAL they said we had just won the lottery. They went over how much money we would earn in our careers and retirement and it was staggering.

I think it's the same now but more like the Shirley Jackson book "The Lottery" where winning means that you are stoned by villagers (or management or other pilots).

So I guess in this case we all really did win the lottery.