Meta paid one AI engineer $200M to leave Apple, it's more than Tim Cook makes in three years
Published on Aug 08, 2025 at 10:28 AM (UTC-4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Aug 08, 2025 at 10:28 AM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Daisy Edwards
Meta paid one AI engineer $200M to leave Apple and get all its secrets and it’s more than Tim Cook makes in three years.
The engineer played a significant role in important Apple features like smarter notifications, Genmoji and even more advanced AI in Siri.
Apple didn’t even try to match the offer from Meta, because it’s more than what even the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook makes in three years.
Being an AI engineer is a lucrative business and now a lot of them are out-earning many different CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
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Meta paid just one AI engineer $200M to leave Apple
If we know anything, we know that there’s no shortage of tech billionaires like Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, but Zuck has just dropped the most amount of money ever on just one AI Engineer.
It was an extremely lucrative deal for the New York-based AI Engineer, Ruoming Pang, who was offered literally the equivalent of three years of the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook’s, salary to switch from Apple to Meta.
Apple couldn’t even try to match the offer because Pang would be paid more than Apple Executives, so it let Ruoming Pang go with all the knowledge of the intricacies of some of Apple’s most successful AI projects.
Siri, Genmoji and more
Pang is such a sought-after individual because he played a massive role in developing a lot of Apple’s most lucrative AI features like parts of the iconic Siri artificial intelligence, smarter notifications and even genmoji.
Pang recieved the largest compensation package ever given to a single AI Engineer in history and it seems like the offer from Meta would be crazy to refuse.
This shows that in the tech space race, Zuck is willing to throw any amount of cash at developing Artificial Super Intelligence, no matter what it would cost.
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
