In a dramatic shift that’s sent shockwaves through the AI world, Elon Musk’s xAI has quietly snapped up between 14 and 18 of Meta’s top AI engineers—not by outbidding with lavish cash, but with a compelling mission and high-growth culture. Despite Meta dangling some of the most eye-popping retention offers in tech history, including packages of $250 million or more, these researchers walked away—and the narrative has gone viral.

Money vs. Mission: Why Musk Wins the AI Talent Chase

Meta desperately tried to hold onto top talent: walling its new Superintelligence Labs with massive financial incentives, even dangling up to $300 million in some cases. Yet xAI’s appeal came not from a deeper pocket, but from its “hyper merit-based” ethos—where engineers are motivated by impact, autonomy, and equity upside. Musk himself posted:

“Many strong Meta engineers have… joined xAI without the need for insane initial comp…the market cap growth potential is vastly better… do something great and your comp can shift substantially higher.”
The Times of India

Reports confirm at least 14 departures from Meta since early 2025, with some estimates suggesting the number climbs as high as 18.

Meta’s Response: Money and Friction

Meta was not idle: it armed its Superintelligence push with aggressive retention packages, high-profile executive hires, and top-tier computing infrastructure. Still, many engineers felt sidelined as leadership prioritized financial incentives and rapid internal restructuring.

Meta hires Shengjia Zhao as Chief Scientist in Superintelligence Labs