Split three ways it's 4 months minimum wage for, say, two weeks of work. That's pretty attractive for someone who thinks they can figure out a way to do it more times.
That's probably why the ransom was set so low: pick a number where it's easier to just pay that resist. Unfortunately for them, the victim chose to resist. A lot of people wouldn't be brave enough to do that.
It'd be good to give the victim a reward for their bravery and execute all three assailants.