Why Mira Murati’s team rejected Mark Zuckerberg’s $1 Billion offer to join Meta’s AI dream team

Mira Murati

Mark Zuckerberg has never been shy about going after top tech talent, and with the recent launch of Meta’s Superintelligence Lab, he’s been aggressively trying to build a world-class AI dream team. But this time, his billion-dollar moves may not have paid off.

According to a new report in Wired, Meta made jaw-dropping offers to several researchers at Thinking Machines Lab, the new AI startup led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. The offers weren’t just generous, they were astronomical. One researcher was reportedly offered a package worth $1 billion over multiple years. Others were tempted with compensation ranging between $200 million and $500 million, set to vest over four years.

But despite the eye-popping numbers, not a single employee from Thinking Machines Lab has accepted Meta’s offer.

The Wired report quotes sources saying plainly: “So far at Thinking Machines Lab, not a single person has taken the offer.”

Founded by Murati after her departure from OpenAI, Thinking Machines Lab has quickly become one of the most-watched names in the AI space. The company raised funds at a $12 billion valuation—despite not having launched a product yet. That alone speaks volumes about the faith the tech world has in Murati and her vision.

Many believe that Murati’s leadership and long-term vision may be part of why her team is staying put. In an industry where big paychecks often sway decisions, this unified stance has surprised many.