Ex-OpenAI employee reported losing 85% of his family's net worth

Suggesting the community raise funds on behalf of a tech worker who gave up stock options by quitting is an odd idea. He's likely well off and flooded with job offers. Maybe there are actual advocacy groups out there that need the money for lobbying congress and such.

&gt; losing 85%<p>He didn&#x27;t lose anything, he just made a bad decision<p>It&#x27;s like the Spotify dude wo got bankrupt because he started living like his 300k+ salary was some form of life long secured payment, it&#x27;s hard to feel bad for these people

I&#x27;ve read some version of something like this a few times over the last while, and I don&#x27;t really understand it. You typically vest the option to buy shares, separately; when you leave a company, they may ask you to sign additional agreements. You can just walk out the door, but what they often do is say they will vest all your equity to the end of the vesting schedule if you sign it. I&#x27;ve never done that in my career, and I don&#x27;t feel bad about leaving money on the table. I was fine with what I had and didn&#x27;t want additional obligations to the company when I left. This is normal stuff...?

Update: Found a post by Sam Altman where he admits to the clause and says he is “embarrassed” about it. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;sama&#x2F;status&#x2F;1791936857594581428" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;twitter.com&#x2F;sama&#x2F;status&#x2F;1791936857594581428</a><p>OpenAI did say they haven’t and wouldn’t claw back an employees equity for not signing a document. So idk - it could just have been unvested equity which they would have lost at any other company when they quit.

I (UK) once refused to sign an NDA before a US company interviewed me. They were highly confused and they even scheduled a call with one of their lawyers to explain my position. They eventually relented but I really just wanted them to go away. I only went through with the interview because their HR guy put so much effort in. I ended up leaving the interview early after all that.<p>I still find it bizarre that some companies expect NDAs for interviews. Why would anyone agree to that, there’s literally no gain for me.

Doesn’t this fall under counting your chickens before they hatch? We are all taking opportunity risks in life and I don’t see how this person is any different.

&gt; Yeah idk whether the sacrifice was worth it but thanks for the support. Basically I wanted to retain my ability to criticize the company in the future. I&#x27;m not sure what I&#x27;d want to say yet though<p>This is the craziest part to me. If someone was paying 85% of their net worth for the freedom to say something, I&#x27;d expect them to know exactly what they wanted to say, and for them to actually say it. Otherwise how could it possibly be worth it?

I have nothing, but respect for people who are able to do this ( not sign NDA knowing it will hit them financially ). Even in the harsh light of the internet I think it is important that we can.. not sure what the right word is.. celebrate?.. seems too strong.. emotionally support with good vibes on social media and fake internet points?.. seems a little dismissive.<p>My point is that it had to be a hard decision, I think it was the right one and I hope I would have the balls to do it if it was me.<p>Kudos.

There&#x27;s better ways to advocate than punishing yourself financially.<p>Stay, get the options, spend money on advocacy.<p>This is not a company so evil you should leave it - not like it&#x27;s a tobacco company or an asbestos company.