Depends on the structure of their practice, some academics are grouped into practice groups that operate fairly independently of their hospital. Those folks can rake in the dough.
I'm pretty sure I want to do academics. I'm not certain about how much research I want, but I know I want to do complicated and unusual cases. I'd also like to teach. I know there's someone gearing up to say that I'll have to do research, but this simply isn't true. I thought it was before I talked to my adviser and learned about a bunch of the attendings.