'A buyout you never heard of': Google paid ₹856 crore to stop this man from joining Twitter

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh

₹856 Crore Stay Bonus

[{"selector":"#anim-689741ed-e676-4666-904a-2d285768c8dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.2239752094691156%, -4.986333690767493%) scale(1.3968253968253967)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Google reportedly handed Neal Mohan a jaw-dropping ₹856 crore to stop him from jumping ship to Twitter. Yes, one man’s career move was worth more than some startups.

Tech Tug-of-War

[{"selector":"#anim-8e03ecb8-9a7b-4543-8e06-b5b42f0a5558 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.704545283884052%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] In 2011, Twitter tried poaching two of Google’s biggest stars—Mohan and Sundar Pichai. Google fired back with stock grants that would make Wall Street blush.

Stock Over Salary

[{"selector":"#anim-b57934c3-e2f8-45b8-a3f1-436dfd663e3d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.24062488616884%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This wasn’t just cash—it was a slow-release fortune. The $100 million came as restricted stock, vesting over years, tying Mohan’s future to Google’s dominance.

X-Factor Exit Block

[{"selector":"#anim-299421a8-f707-4c27-a82c-ba6389e46c30 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(4.2929557825078675%, -6.75253969215785%) scale(1.2272727272727273)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Mohan was headed to Twitter (now X), where his former boss wanted him as Chief Product Officer. Google said no—with a $100M mic drop.

Sundar’s ₹428 Cr Save

[{"selector":"#anim-6f68dfe5-9560-4288-8eae-2323fc386a1c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.893069830403423%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Not to be left out, Google reportedly paid Sundar Pichai a ₹428 crore equivalent stock grant to keep him too. The result? Two CEOs in the making, kept in the fold.

Stanford to CEO

[{"selector":"#anim-81ba87c2-278c-4e34-8521-3b2ec010b9f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-5.542771610761796%, -6.025258576226811%) scale(1.4065040650406504)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] From Stanford to Andersen Consulting to DoubleClick to YouTube CEO—Mohan’s climb was steep, strategic, and backed by billions.

Inside the Bidding War

[{"selector":"#anim-ee21a761-cbb7-48b3-aa6c-c5ef372aca73 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(16.114457625709143%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This wasn’t about job offers—it was about keeping future tech titans from fueling a rival. For Google, losing Mohan or Pichai wasn’t an option.

Quiet Flex

[{"selector":"#anim-9e7d6efe-0bbd-47e8-ba4c-e3ed3072f20d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.5112639335566556%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Mohan never confirmed the $100M payout—but he didn’t deny it either. The silence only amplified the legend.

Big Bets, Big Payoffs

[{"selector":"#anim-c84108dc-5445-4048-bf85-ec59b08b1dbb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.548675795371532%, -6.503913368764897%) scale(1.3968253968253967)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Fast forward to 2025: Sundar runs Alphabet, Mohan runs YouTube. That $100 million? Arguably the best counteroffer in Silicon Valley history.

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