Google Paid Neal Mohan $100M to Stay, Blocking Move to Twitter (Now X)
Neal Mohan, the current CEO of YouTube, is widely regarded as one of the pivotal figures behind the growth of Google’s advertising empire and YouTube’s evolution into a global video giant. Yet a surprising story from his past recently surfaced, revealing just how much Google valued him — to the point of offering an eye-popping $100 million stock deal to prevent him from joining Twitter (now called X) back in 2011.
The revelation came during a podcast with entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, where Mohan shared details of the intense recruitment battle between two tech giants over his leadership talents. At the time, Twitter was eager to strengthen its product leadership and had approached Mohan for the role of Chief Product Officer. Twitter, still establishing itself as a key social media platform, sought Mohan’s deep expertise in product management to help guide its growth.
Mohan seriously considered the offer. His credentials made him an extremely attractive candidate: he had been with Google since it acquired DoubleClick in 2007, a company where he had already made a significant mark. His role in building Google’s advertising business and later steering YouTube’s product development was critical to the platforms’ success.
Recognizing Mohan’s importance, Google intervened swiftly and decisively. The company proposed a retention deal that reportedly included restricted stock units worth over $100 million, spread out over several years. This massive counter-offer was designed to keep Mohan on board and dissuade him from joining a competitor. Though the deal wasn’t widely publicized at the time, it was a clear signal of how vital Mohan was to Google’s strategic vision.
Before joining Google, Mohan’s career was already on a promising trajectory. He studied electrical engineering at Stanford University and began his career at Andersen Consulting. He then moved to a smaller startup called NetGravity, which was eventually acquired by DoubleClick. Mohan’s talent and leadership propelled him upward, helping DoubleClick navigate challenges and become an attractive acquisition target for Google.
In 2011, as Twitter sought to boost its product capabilities, Mohan’s former mentor David Rosenblatt — who also served as a Twitter board member — was reportedly involved in trying to bring him over. But Google’s timely and generous offer sealed the deal, keeping Mohan within the company’s fold.
Since then, Mohan has played an instrumental role in shaping YouTube’s product direction. His influence has helped the platform expand into new areas, including advertising innovations and content discovery. In 2023, he was appointed CEO of YouTube, a testament to the trust and confidence Google placed in him.
Mohan is known for maintaining a relatively low profile despite his significant impact on the tech industry. However, stories like this highlight the lengths companies will go to retain top talent in the highly competitive technology sector. Google’s $100 million retention offer wasn’t just about money — it reflected a long-term vision and belief in Mohan’s ability to drive the future of digital media.
As YouTube continues to evolve under Mohan’s leadership, this fascinating episode from his past serves as a reminder of the high stakes behind the scenes in Silicon Valley’s talent wars.
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