Hello followers! Today we’re diving into how Meta is seriously investing in AI talent, but with a twist on those big signing bonuses everyone talks about.

Meta is rolling out massive pay packages to attract top AI researchers for its new Superintelligence Lab. However, contrary to some rumors, no one is pocketing a straight $100 million signing bonus. Instead, the offers involve complex compensation structures, mainly including restricted stock units (RSUs) linked to tenure or performance.

During an internal company meeting leaked to The Verge, Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth explained that only a few senior leaders might have been offered such eye-watering sums, and even then, it’s not an immediate cash payout. Most of Meta’s top executives earn between $20 million and nearly $24 million annually, and the big packages are often for senior roles.

OpenAI’s Sam Altman suggested that Meta is offering big bucks across the board, but Bosworth clarified that the company isn’t giving $100 million with a simple sign-on bonus. Instead, the compensation is spread out over years and tied to performance and stock grants.

Several researchers have confirmed that while Meta is definitely spending big on AI talent, the reputed $100 million sign-on bonuses are a misconception. For example, Lucas Beyer, who’s moving from OpenAI to Meta, confirmed he did not receive a $100 million signing sum, even though he’s highly esteemed in computer vision AI.

Meta’s target is to build a powerhouse in entertainment-focused AI, leveraging products like Quest VR headsets and Ray-Ban and Oakley AI glasses. Their efforts include hiring notable talent like OpenAI’s Trapit Bansal, known for breakthroughs in AI reasoning models, and acquiring large stakes in startups like Scale, with deals valuing hundreds of millions of dollars.

The market’s high demand for top AI researchers is evident—some have reportedly turned down offers as high as $18 million, choosing instead to join startups like Thinking Machines Lab. Meta’s strategy involves offering substantial but nuanced compensation packages, emphasizing long-term stock rewards over immediate cash bonuses.

Altogether, Meta is spending big on AI talent, but the narrative of instant $100 million sign-on bonuses is misleading. The company’s approach reflects a sophisticated, performance-oriented compensation model aimed at securing top-tier AI experts in a highly competitive market.