OpenAI, Google, xAI Offer Up to $190 Million Salaries, Poker Games in AI Talent Battle

OpenAI, Google, and xAI are competing to attract and retain top artificial intelligence (AI) researchers, known as '10,000x' talent, by offering multimillion-dollar compensation packages. Some annual salaries reportedly reach 190 million, with additional bonuses and equity. OpenAI has provided retention bonuses of $2 million and equity increases of $20 million or more to researchers considering offers from companies such as SSI and Eleven Labs. Top OpenAI researchers can receive compensation exceeding $10 million per year. Google DeepMind has reportedly offered up to $20 million annually and adjusted stock vesting schedules to three years. Recruitment efforts include unique incentives, such as Sam Altman hosting poker games and Google founder Sergey Brin meeting with candidates. Startups led by former executives, including Mira Murati's new firm, have recruited at least 20 OpenAI employees and continue to expand their teams. Firms like Zeki Data are using advanced data analysis to identify promising talent, while companies such as Anthropic are hiring researchers with backgrounds in theoretical physics and quantum computing. The scarcity of elite contributors—estimated at several dozen to around a thousand—has made their recruitment a priority for leading AI companies.