Google programmer blew off $500K salary at startup because he's making $3M/year

Not sure what is more mind blowing, that a "startup" can offer to pay someone 500k, or that Google thinks a programmer is worth $3M. Or, that I just fell for some click bait garbage and if the story is remotely true it must be a senior exec, not a "programmer."

Vesting almost 3000 GSU's per year - possible if he joined early enough and is really good.

The article was implying new grants.

Note that the ultimate source for this chestnut is a recruiter at JobSpring. Whose livelihood revolves around propagating the idea the labor market is so H-O-T-T, and that it's so impossibly hard to find developers without resorting to outside recruiters.

So maybe the real story should be "why no one wants to talk to recruiters anymore, no matter who they're hiring for, or how much they're offering."

The article doesn't mention his title though. This sort of pay isn't unheard of for architects/fellows/ distinguished engineers even at msft

Who could it possibly be? Jeff Dean?