In a recent podcast with entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan disclosed a remarkable anecdote from his career: Google once offered him $100 million in stock options to stop him from taking a top role at Twitter. The conversation opened a rare window into the brutal competition for tech leadership, and also explored Mohan’s formative years split between India and the U.S.
The $100M Counteroffer: When Google Fought to Keep Its Star
Back in 2011, as Twitter aggressively pursued seasoned leadership for its growing platform, it identified Neal Mohan—then a senior executive at Google as a perfect fit for the Chief Product Officer role. Twitter’s board, including David Rosenblatt, who had previously supervised Mohan, was eager to bring him on board.
But Google wasn’t ready to let go. In a stunning move, the company reportedly extended a $100 million stock offer, issued as restricted stock units (RSUs) that would vest over time, in a bid to prevent Mohan’s departure. This counteroffer wasn’t just about retention it reflected how high the stakes had become in Silicon Valley’s war for executive talent.
Mohan, in a recent conversation with Kamath, acknowledged the figure indirectly, saying, “Not today, but 15 years ago, which was a lot of money,” without denying the report.
From Lucknow to Stanford: A Life Bridging Two Worlds
Beyond the big-dollar headlines, Mohan also shared personal reflections. Born in India while his father was enrolled at IIT, Mohan spent most of his early life in the United States, before returning to India in the 7th grade. He studied for five years at St. Francis’ College in Lucknow, only to head back to the U.S. again for higher education at Stanford University, where he majored in electrical engineering.
The return to India as a teenager came with its own challenges. “One of the biggest hurdles was my limited command of Hindi,” he said, highlighting the cultural shift and the identity duality faced by many second-generation immigrants.
Mohan also recalled his early love for technology and entrepreneurship. As a high schooler in Lucknow, he built a software startup to help students and teachers, laying the groundwork for a lifelong passion in tech.
Leadership at YouTube: Navigating Algorithms, Influence, and Responsibility
Now at the helm of YouTube, Mohan’s reflections come at a time when the platform is under increasing scrutiny not just for its algorithms, but for its role in shaping political discourse and social behavior. In the same podcast, he discussed how YouTube navigates these challenges, from algorithm optimization to curating responsible content.
Mohan emphasized the responsibility of platforms like YouTube in managing content that informs billions, while also allowing creators to thrive. His long journey—from Lucknow classrooms to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley—has made him uniquely equipped to lead at this intersection of technology and public influence.