"mining for lithium is supposed to be really bad for the environment."
Mining for everything is bad for the environment. It's a mixed bag. You need all sorts of mining for regular ICE vehicles as well. (internal combustion engines... not the other ICE)
An EV may take a few lbs of lithium (until something better comes along), but it also takes steel, and 200lbs of copper... and copper is in short supply.
I think you are referring to some multi-millionaire salaries with actors, sporty and ceo types.. interesting, their "work" is so handsomely rewarded.. but those same individuals that don't invest their "earnings" in stocks (covers everything from gold to real estate) sometimes end up on the street. Lol, edit - to be fair to me, I did say Super Rich.