Meta Offers High AI Salaries, Denies $100M Signing Bonuses

Meta Platforms is offering multi-million-dollar compensation packages to top artificial intelligence researchers, but recent reports of $100 million signing bonuses are exaggerated, according to sources familiar with the company’s hiring practices.

The tech giant is investing heavily in artificial intelligence talent as it races to compete with other major players like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. While Meta is indeed offering lucrative deals to attract and retain leading AI scientists and engineers, no employee has received a nine-figure signing bonus, despite speculation in recent media reports.

According to TechCrunch, compensation for high-level AI roles at Meta can include a combination of base salary, bonuses, stock awards, and long-term incentive packages that total several million dollars annually. In some cases, top-tier researchers may receive compensation over time that approaches or exceeds $20 million, but this is typically tied to performance and equity vesting schedules—not upfront cash payments.

The rumors of $100 million signing deals likely stem from the cumulative value of long-term stock grants over several years, rather than immediate offers. Meta is aggressively pursuing AI talent to support its efforts in foundational model development, generative AI tools, and advanced machine learning infrastructure.

With the AI talent war intensifying, Meta’s strategy reflects a broader trend in Silicon Valley: offering elite researchers compensation typically reserved for C-level executives. However, the company is also pushing back on sensational claims to clarify the structure and intent behind its generous pay packages.