Why Ex-OpenAI Researcher Lucas Beyer Questions Meta’s Shocking $100 Million Signing Bonus

OpenAI engineers Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov, and Xiaohua Zhai are set to join Meta, but the buzz about them receiving $100 million each is off the mark. Beyer cleared the air on X, calling it “fake news.” The rumor stemmed from comments by OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, who noted that some offers were indeed “crazy” but expressed relief that none of his top talent had accepted.

Beyer and his colleagues joined OpenAI from Google’s DeepMind in December 2024. Their move to Meta comes amid fierce competition for AI talent. Zuckerberg is reportedly building a “Superintelligence” team, aiming to enhance Meta’s AI capabilities, which could explain the aggressive recruitment efforts. Notably, Meta has also invested $14 billion in Scale AI, aiming to bolster its AI development further.

Interestingly, while Zuckerberg earns just $1 as CEO, he has a $14 million annual allowance for security. His wealth stands at an impressive $250 billion, according to Forbes.

Regarding executive pay, the highest compensation at Meta last year went to COO Javier Olivan, who earned $25.5 million. None of the top executives have received $100 million in the past three years, highlighting how unusual that figure is. The median total annual compensation for non-Zuckerberg employees at Meta was $417,400 in 2024.

The reactions on social media have been insightful. Some users speculated that Altman might have floated the $100 million figure to make his team’s current offers seem more appealing. Beyer acknowledged this strategy, calling it “brilliant.”

As the landscape of AI continues to evolve, the talent war between companies like OpenAI and Meta shows no signs of slowing down. In this competitive environment, attracting and retaining skilled engineers is crucial. Both firms are focusing on pushing the boundaries of AI, which will likely shape not just technology but societal norms in the coming years.

For more on the latest in tech and AI, you can check out Forbes and SEC Filings.

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