[kriro]

The idea of taking higher salary over options is basically summed up in the "why your dentist is rich" chapter in Fooled by Randomness. It's "safer" and you'll be relatively rich over all outcomes.

Additionally you can theoretically invest the extra money over your vesting period of the options at whatever $insert ETF produces as an annual return.

Setting all the monetary issues asside I'm not sure if I'd prefer more money or more options on a philosophical basis. I feel like I'd go for options because if you work at a startup you should share the vision and work there because you believe it's awesome stuff that will change the world. OTOH taking the salary might make you less prone to certain biases and more "objective" in everyday work (+not overinvested in one outcome). tl;dr: I think I'd take the options package if I'd work at a startup because if I wouldn't I'd have to question why I work there in the first place