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Tech Giants Offer Nine-Figure to Billion-Dollar Packages in AI Talent War

The hunt for a few thousand elite AI specialists has driven rivals to fortify retention incentives, prompting startups to redefine pay and equity offers.

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Mark Zuckerberg’s hiring spree has led many to feel a “fear of missing out”
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(Christopher Smith for TheWrap)

Overview

  • Meta and Google are publicly pitching multi-year compensation packages topping $1 billion, including Google’s $2.4 billion deal for Windsurf executives and a refused $1.25 billion offer reported by Meta.
  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Meta’s $100 million signing bonuses have failed to sway the lab’s core researchers, reflecting a push for retention over poaching.
  • Anthropic executives confirm nine-figure lures are real but report that mission-driven researchers are opting to stay despite lofty pay offers.
  • Former Google HR chief Laszlo Bock calls $100 million per researcher a “bargain” in light of the strategic impact these hires can deliver.
  • Startups are raising base AI salaries to $300,000–$400,000 and boosting equity grants to 2%–5% while pitching ownership and impact to candidates.