OpenAI appears to be setting the benchmark among major tech companies when it comes to pre-IPO employee rewards. The numbers tell the story: average stock-based compensation hitting $1.5M per head puts OpenAI in a league of its own. Why does this matter? Simple—it signals how aggressively AI leaders are competing for talent before going public. Compared to traditional tech giants, this kind of equity distribution is significant. It's not just about salaries anymore; it's about letting employees ride the wave if the company succeeds. For the broader Web3 and tech ecosystem, it raises questions: are other sectors matching this pace? How does this reshape expectations for employee packages across the industry? These compensation strategies often trickle down, influencing how startups and established firms structure their own deals.