I am going to say that academia (in the humanities) is not a good choice if you want to make money, or even be guaranteed a job. Professorial jobs are moving away from tenure-track positions, and towards part-time positions. There are very few professorial jobs and very many people (who are all "the best") who want them.

Boring Data

Or put in more understandable terms: 100 Reasons Not to go into Academia

Or for amusement's sake: PhD Comics