Meta recruits Apple AI executive with jaw-dropping $200 million deal amid industry talent scramble

In a bold move that underscores the intensifying race for artificial intelligence dominance, Meta has secured a key AI leader from Apple with a staggering $200 million compensation package—one of the most lucrative ever offered to an individual in tech.

Ruoming Pang, who until recently headed Apple’s foundation model efforts, has left the company to join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, a newly launched division dedicated to building next-gen AI systems. Pang’s team at Apple played a central role in powering features introduced under the Apple Intelligence banner, including language-based tools like Genmoji, email summarization, and intelligent notifications.

His defection highlights the high-stakes war for AI talent as companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic race to build more powerful, general-purpose AI models. Sources familiar with the offer told Bloomberg that Pang’s deal includes a performance-based equity package making up the bulk of the compensation, plus a substantial salary and signing bonus. The payout rivals those of some of the highest-paid CEOs in the financial sector and tech industry.

Apple, known for its tightly controlled executive structure and more restrained compensation policies, did not attempt to match the offer, reflecting a strategic difference in how it approaches talent retention compared to its rivals. The company has since appointed Zhifeng Chen to lead its foundation models team and is reportedly spreading leadership duties across multiple senior engineers to maintain progress.

Meta’s new AI unit, led by a lineup of influential names including former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and tech entrepreneur Daniel Gross, is positioning itself as a serious contender in the race toward artificial general intelligence. With Pang’s expertise now added to the mix, Meta is signaling that it's not just building tools—it’s assembling a dream team to redefine AI itself.

As the competition for advanced AI research intensifies, billion-dollar companies are now willing to offer generational wealth to individuals capable of driving innovation. Pang’s departure isn’t just a high-profile exit for Apple—it’s a reminder that the future of AI may be decided not just by product launches, but by who can attract and retain the few minds capable of building the systems behind them.