the reward pool is false representation

only about 1/4 is used a day

also it decrease with vest as users power down

whales are powering down 500k steem a week currently

no whales will ever be created by popularity votes again rules were changed last year to ensure this

example if you got 1k STU on a post would be 297.6 STEEM 375.00 SBD (310.92 STEEM) = 607 STEEM a post

to reach whale at 500k steem would be 823 posts = roughly $823K USD earnings needed from votes