[throwaway23334]

I agree with the lottery analogy. But in this instance, the lottery ticket kind of hit? There's an exit event happening, people are getting paid. All of the money that employees paid to exercise their options is literally going to pay out executive bonuses.

Wouldn't it benefit the founders more in the long term to make good with their employees for the benefit of working with them in future endeavours? I guess when you're getting a 7 figure payout, it doesn't matter because you can just retire?

[totalZero]

Forget what you believe would benefit them in the long term. That's not how business works.

If you truly believe they did something nefarious to stiff the guys at the bottom of the cap structure, and it was a fairly sizable chunk of money, you (solo, not with your ex-coworkers) could take whatever documents you've got and briefly consult with a lawyer. Just an idea from someone who has never been in your situation. I've hired a lawyer (something which I am not) to bite back at people who tried to screw me a couple of times. May be futile in your situation, IDK. You have to figure out if it's really your money they're paying out, and whether there's a basis to argue that the directors violated a fiduciary duty to you.

[kartoolOz]

Employees are replacable, founders would always maximize money first.

[meheleventyone]

The entire point of the system is to reward and protect capital.