Counting the Google Millionaires

In the 1990s, we loved to tally up the number of Microsoft millionaires. Now, it’s Google’s turn. The New York Times cites estimates that there are 1,000 Google employees whose stock grants and options are worth more than $5 million. So there are more than 1,000 Google millionaires, including Google’s former masseuse, Bonnie Brown.

And anyone who joined a year ago is worth, on average, $276,000. According to the story, the average options grant to an employee who started a year ago was for 685 shares, plus an additional 230 shares in outright stock. At the current price of $662, that comes to $276,000 (assuming full vesting of the shares). Google currently has 16,000 employees, of which roughly 6,500 were added in the past year alone. So 9,500 are worth at least $276,000. Plus, they still get free massages.