[kqvamxurcagg]

What you've described is very common among the startups I work with.

The founders/executives would have received payouts as the board or acquirer agreed a package to keep them onboard and smooth over the acquisition. Very common. It's not fair but that's what happens. I've seen incompetents awarded millions of dollars. Boards and acquirers don't really value employees and spend very little time discussing them, unless there's a problem.

As others have said, options and stock are a lottery ticket and should be valued at $0. More than likely, the startup you are working for will fail slowly or never become a major hit.

You should actually only accept earning MORE working for a startup than a corporate because the risk is greater, you'll be less employable after and the stock you get will be worthless.