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Sparrow isn't Instagram. Most acqui-hires lately have been, essentially, large signing bonuses. Six figures per founder. Not "FU" money.



Any high six figures (say, over .5 million) figure is actually FU money, as long as you can invest reasonably safely and well and have modest living standards.

I'm amazed at how often I read here that even a million is pocket change that changes nothing on the receivers life.


Are you familiar with how expensive it is to live here? You cannot buy a decent house in a fair school district for less than $500k. Probably more like $750k. For two bedrooms.


I live where a house with two bedrooms costs more than a million. I'm certain half a million would significantly change my life.

I just don't need such a house.


Then move. Living somewhere that costs that much is a luxury good.


The Bay Area is the center of the universe of software development. Not that you can't work as a software engineer elsewhere (I have) but you have a limitless amount of interesting work here.

And while costs are higher, salaries are much higher as well.

It's absurd to act like a $500k payout puts you on easy street.


Well, give me the 500k payout, I'll gladly take that hard street.

It's absurd to act as if it's pocket change. Upon receiving that kind of money, you just leave the valley and move elsewhere doing the work you want to do, living off the interests.

Well, unless all you want to do is working for somebody else on the valley :)


Well it's good that these developers have you to plan their financial futures. It'd be a shame if nobody was looking out for their interests.


Well, the number being reported in this particular case is $25 million, split between their 5 person team.


That would certainly be a good payday. Were there no investors?




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