The battle for top artificial intelligence talent is heating up, marked by aggressive recruitment tactics and eye-watering compensation figures. A recent move saw three key OpenAI researchers defect to tech rival Meta Platforms. However, one of the departing engineers has publicly refuted claims of receiving a staggering $100 million signing bonus, calling the figure “fake news.”
Lucas Beyer, alongside colleagues Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, confirmed their departure from OpenAI to join Mark Zuckerberg’s $1.8 trillion company. This move contradicts a statement made earlier by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who alleged that Meta was making “crazy” offers, including signing bonuses of $100 million or more, to poach his staff. Speaking on a podcast, Altman had expressed relief that, at that time, “none of our best people have decided to take him up on that.”
The Denial and the Context
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Lucas Beyer directly addressed the rumor, stating unequivocally that he and his colleagues were indeed joining Meta but emphatically denied receiving a $100 million signing bonus. He labeled the claim “fake news.” This public refutation puts Altman’s previous statement under scrutiny, particularly regarding the specific nine-figure sum mentioned.
The timing of the move underscores the intense competition gripping the AI industry. Meta is reportedly engaged in a significant recruitment drive, aiming to bolster its AI capabilities and counter perceptions that it is falling behind. Mark Zuckerberg himself is said to be personally involved in recruiting for a new 50-person “Superintelligence” AI team. This aggressive push fuels the need for elite researchers and engineers.
Compensation Realities vs. Alleged Bonuses
The alleged $100 million signing bonus stands in stark contrast to typical compensation figures at Meta. While CEO Mark Zuckerberg famously takes a nominal $1 salary, he receives a substantial allowance for security costs and holds a massive stock stake. Financial filings show that Meta’s highest-paid executive last year, COO Javier Olivan, received total compensation valued at $25.5 million. No other top executive at Meta has approached $100 million in compensation in any of the past three years. The median total annual compensation for all Meta employees (excluding Zuckerberg) was reported as $417,400 last year. These figures highlight just how extraordinary a $100 million signing bonus would be.
Strategic Moves in the Talent War
The discrepancy between Altman’s public claim and Beyer’s denial has sparked speculation regarding the motives behind such pronouncements. One commenter on X suggested that Altman might have strategically thrown out the $100 million figure to make any OpenAI employees potentially considering Meta’s actual offers feel they were being lowballed. Lucas Beyer responded, agreeing with this assessment and calling it a “brilliant move.”
This situation reflects the broader dynamics of the AI talent war, where companies are employing various strategies beyond just compensation, including restrictive non-compete clauses and significant retention packages, to secure and keep their top minds. Beyer, Kolesnikov, and Zhai themselves were previously recruited by OpenAI in December 2024 after leaving Google DeepMind, illustrating the constant movement of talent between these tech giants.
While the top tier of AI researchers commands compensation packages more akin to professional athletes, opportunities for entry-level AI engineers are reportedly becoming more scarce. This creates a bifurcated market: unparalleled demand and compensation for the elite few, and a more challenging landscape for those entering the field.
Ultimately, the move of the OpenAI researchers to Meta is confirmed, highlighting the fierce talent competition. However, the specific, sensational figure of a $100 million signing bonus appears to be, as the departing researcher stated, “fake news.”
