One guy I used to work with told me with a straight face that he got into aviation for the prestige!
Quite common in Asia where prestige is important in family life. Most are not in the game for love of flying. In fact in China the "authorities" are well known for visiting universities and ordering aircrew medicals on students and those that pass are streamed into being either military or civilian pilots. I know this because I have been involved with some of their simulator training.