This doesn't seem true to me at all. Humans are not rational drones that analyze the business and coldly determines the required number of people. I would be surprised if CEOs didn't keep people around because it felt good to be a boss.
Facebook might be able to operate with half the headcount, but them Zuckerberg wouldn't be the boss of as many people, and I think he likes being the boss.
> I would be surprised if CEOs didn't keep people around because it felt good to be a boss.
If you had hired people (and been responsible for their salaries and benefits and HR issues), you would definitely not say that.