[8note]

Valued at $0 because thats what theyll be treated as when the founders and moneyed investors get paid out first.

Sure, options are how you get rich from a startup, but you dont get rich at a startup by working for one, only by being a founder or an investor.

That's why I work at a FAANG:P startups exist to screw their employees

[JumpCrisscross]

> you dont get rich at a startup by working for one, only by being a founder or an investor

I’ve written small (<$50k) Series A cheques into companies where employee no. 20 made more than I did. That’s fine. They invested a hell of a lot more and put much more on the line. Options shouldn’t be counted on. They’re high risk. But no need to be that cynical. Plenty of people want the ones they were in the trenches with to win big when they do.

[ricardobeat]

I bet that employee didn’t have 50k in cash to invest in extremely high risk equity. Even people making 200k/year wouldn’t consider 50k a small amount (it’s almost half of your net). A higher-than-average salary is quite different from “getting rich”.

[JumpCrisscross]

> A higher-than-average salary

Sorry, I meant on exit. They built up more equity over the years through employment and cashed out. This wasn’t a blockbuster exit either.

[matwood]

I mostly agree with you, but I would just add 'on average' to your comment. There are exceptions, but the most surefire way to reach financial security is to get a job in big tech.

[RexM]

That’s a new one for me, what’s the P?

[kzzzznot]

I think it combined with the : (missing a preceding space) was supposed to be a sticky-tongue-out emoji