Meta Platforms Inc has been offering exceptionally large compensation packages to attract top talent for its advanced AI division, known as the ‘superintelligence’ unit. One of the most notable hires is Ruoming Pang, the former leader of Apple’s artificial intelligence team, who has reportedly accepted a deal worth more than $200 million over several years. According to Bloomberg, Apple chose not to compete with the offer, as the amount far exceeds what the company typically provides for senior roles, with the exception of its CEO, Tim Cook.

These sky-high offers are in line with Meta’s broader recruitment strategy for the superintelligence initiative. Other prominent figures recently brought onboard include former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and AI entrepreneur Daniel Gross. Meta also appointed Alexandr Wang, co-founder of Scale AI, as its Chief AI Officer after acquiring a 49 percent stake in his company, which is valued at $14.3 billion.

The term ‘superintelligence’ refers to a hypothetical level of artificial intelligence that surpasses human abilities across every domain. No existing AI system has achieved this level yet. Current technologies still fall short of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is defined as the ability to perform a wide range of cognitive tasks at human-like proficiency.

Financially, the compensation offered to members of Meta’s superintelligence team ranks among the highest in the corporate world — even exceeding what many CEOs of global banks earn. However, much of this pay is tied to performance and long-term employment. If an employee leaves early or Meta’s stock fails to meet expectations, significant portions of the package may remain unearned.

The structure of these deals typically includes a base salary, a signing bonus, and a large share of Meta equity — with the stock component forming the bulk of the overall compensation. Initial cash payouts are often substantial, particularly when candidates forgo valuable equity in their previous companies. In such cases, Meta boosts the signing bonus to make up for that loss.

Despite its aggressive recruitment and investment in AI, Meta has faced recent challenges. Once viewed as a leader in open-source AI development, the company has experienced internal disruptions, including high-profile staff exits and delays in rolling out advanced models intended to rival those from competitors like Google, OpenAI, and China-based DeepSeek.