Artificial intelligence company Abel's founder turned down a $1.25 billion offer from Meta spread over four years, equating to an annual salary of approximately $312 million, according to the founder's statement.
In the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), salaries for high-calibre executives are reaching new heights. This is not just a joke or a farce, as some may think, but a reflection of the intense competition in the AI executive and researcher space.
The revelation of Meta's offer to OpenAI staff, which was made last month, is a prime example. The potential hire, who remains unnamed, declined the offer despite it amounting to over $300 million annually. This figure is not an isolated incident, according to several postings on social media.
The typical remuneration for a Head of AI in the United States in 2025 ranges roughly from $200,000 to $350,000 in base pay but can escalate significantly with equity and bonuses. At elite companies like Meta (Facebook), total remuneration for top-tier AI leaders and researchers can reach into the multi-millions over several years, reflecting the strategic importance and scarcity of such talent.
Daniel Francis, the founder of a startup that uses AI to build police reports from body cam footage and dispatch call data, expressed incredulity at Meta's remuneration offer of $1.25 billion over four years to a potential hire. He suggested on social media that Meta was actively seeking a high-calibre AI auteur with such a lucrative incentive.
The news of extreme remuneration in the AI field comes from a direct admission by an AI business CEO. AI researcher Roon, believed to have previously worked at OpenAI, stated that he's heard of higher offers being made in the AI field. He explained the high remuneration offers as being similar to an "acquihire," where the value lies in the intellectual property held by the individual.
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, revealed that Meta was offering $100 million signing bonuses to try to attract OpenAI technical staff. However, he stated that none of OpenAI's best people have accepted Meta's offer so far.
In the current AI era, intellectual property is said to be in people's heads. Daniel Francis, who gained internet notoriety in 2023 by pretending to be a disgruntled Twitter worker fired by Elon Musk, responded to a follower's question about the high remuneration by stating this very point.
For those interested in staying updated on the latest news, analysis, and reviews related to the AI field, Tom's Hardware Newsletter and Google News are reliable sources. As the competition for AI talent continues to escalate, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for salaries in this sector.
The staggering remuneration packages in the AI field, such as Meta's offer of over $300 million annually to a potential hire, are evidence of the significant role artificial intelligence plays in modern technology. As intellectually valuable property, AI talent is highly sought after, with total remuneration for top-tier leaders and researchers reaching into the millions, according to the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman.
