
Google Once Paid $100 Million To Retain This Indian-American Executive – Hint: Not Sundar Pichai
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In 2011, Google made headlines for offering an eye-popping 100 million dollars package to Neal Mohan, an Indian-American executive, to keep him from leaving the company. This massive offer was part of a fierce battle to retain one of their top product strategists, proving how much Google valued his talent and vision. The High-Stakes Talent War with Twitter
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According to a 2011 TechCrunch report, Google's Back then, Neal Mohan was about to join Twitter (now X) as Chief Product Officer. Twitter's former board member David Rosenblatt, who had worked with Mohan before, wanted him badly. To stop this, Google offered Mohan 100 million dollars in restricted stock units, vesting over several years, to persuade him to stay. Meet Neal Mohan – The Rising Star
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Neal Mohan is a Stanford electrical engineering graduate who started his career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). He later joined NetGravity, a startup that was acquired by DoubleClick. At DoubleClick, Mohan quickly rose to become Vice President of Business Operations, showing strong leadership in digital advertising. Mohan's Key Role at Google After Acquisition
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When Google acquired DoubleClick for 3.1 billion dollars in 2007, Neal Mohan took on a leadership role within Google's advertising business. By 2011, he was a crucial figure in developing Google's ad products and shaping the future of YouTube's platform, becoming a driving force behind their success. Twitter's Attempt to Woo Sundar Pichai Too
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Twitter's talent hunt wasn't limited to Mohan. The company also tried to recruit Sundar Pichai, who was leading Google's Chrome and Chrome OS teams. Google responded by offering Pichai a 50 million dollars stock grant to keep him from moving to Twitter, reflecting the fierce competition for tech leadership at the time. Where Are They Now?
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Today, Neal Mohan is the CEO of YouTube, having taken over in 2023 after Susan Wojcicki's departure. Sundar Pichai became Google's CEO in 2015 and later Alphabet's CEO in 2019. Both men remain influential leaders, shaping the future of the tech world. Why Top Talent Is Worth Billions
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This story highlights how tech giants like Google go to great lengths, including massive pay packages, to retain talented leaders. Executives like Mohan and Pichai are crucial to driving innovation and maintaining a company's competitive edge in a cutthroat industry.

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Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tesla opens first showroom in India after years of negotiations marking strategic entry starting with Rs 60 lakh
Source: Tesla Tesla is finally accelerating into India's electric vehicle (EV) market with the launch of its first official showroom in Mumbai. The much-anticipated debut marks a significant step for Elon Musk's company as it tests Indian consumer appetite for premium EVs. The showroom is located at Maker Maxity Mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and is set to open on Tuesday morning. This launch comes after years of speculation and signals Tesla's entry into one of the world's fastest-growing automobile markets, albeit cautiously, without local manufacturing, for now. Elon Musk's Tesla debuts in Mumbai embracing retail-first entry strategy Tesla's India debut will be marked by the inauguration of its first showroom at Maker Maxity Mall, a prime location in Mumbai's upscale BKC district as reported by ANI . The company teased the announcement on its India-focused X (formerly Twitter) account last Friday, posting 'Coming soon' with a graphic hinting at a July 2025 launch. This move confirms Tesla's long-anticipated plan to begin operations in India initially via imported models, without committing to local production yet. Despite the buzz, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, clarified in June that Tesla currently has no plans to manufacture vehicles in India. 'They want to sell their cars in India. There's no further development,' he said during a media interaction. This indicates Tesla is adopting a retail-first strategy, starting with showrooms to gauge demand before making deeper investments like setting up gigafactories or assembly plants. Tesla launches Model Y in India with premium pricing Tesla has officially launched the Model Y in India, with prices starting at Rs 60 lakh, as per the company's updated price catalog released on Tuesday. The electric vehicle giant is offering two variants for Indian buyers: Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): Rs 60 lakh Model Y Long Range RWD: Rs 68 lakh These prices apply to outright cash purchases only, as Tesla has not yet introduced any leasing or financing options in the Indian market. When compared globally, the Indian pricing of the Model Y is significantly higher. For reference, the same model starts at $44,990 in the US, 263,500 yuan in China, and €45,970 in Germany. This price gap is largely due to India's steep import duties and associated logistics costs. According to Bloomberg News , five units of the Model Y have already arrived in Mumbai from Tesla's Shanghai plant. These imported vehicles reportedly attracted over Rs 21 lakh in import duties per unit, in line with India's 70% tariff on fully built EVs priced under $40,000. The launch underlines Tesla's retail-first strategy, as the company continues to import vehicles directly while it assesses the Indian market before committing to local manufacturing or assembly. India's revised EV policy could accelerate Tesla's expansion plans Tesla's India plans have historically been hampered by high import duties—a concern Elon Musk has raised multiple times. However, this may soon change. India's newly launched EV policy offers reduced import taxes and attractive incentives for foreign EV manufacturers, potentially smoothing the path for Tesla's expansion. Earlier this year, Tesla also began hiring for roles in India, signaling early operational groundwork. The government's outreach, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's phone conversation with Elon Musk in April and an earlier meeting during his US visit, hints at growing bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation. What Tesla's launch means for India's EV landscape With the Mumbai showroom launch, Tesla aims to test Indian market readiness for its premium EV lineup, including the Model 3 and Model Y. While price-sensitive Indian buyers may find Tesla's vehicles on the higher end, the brand's arrival adds prestige and momentum to India's growing EV ecosystem. India is already witnessing a surge in electric two-wheelers and budget EVs, but Tesla's entry could redefine consumer expectations in the luxury electric segment, potentially opening doors for competitors like BYD and Mercedes-Benz EQ series to step up their game. While the absence of local manufacturing signals a cautious approach, Tesla's presence in India could be a prelude to larger ambitions. If the new EV policy proves effective, and if demand meets expectations, Tesla might reconsider setting up a manufacturing hub, especially as India offers a large workforce and strategic location for export. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India .


Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
India bonds yields steady around key levels as RBI to mop up liquidity
MUMBAI, July 15 (Reuters) - Indian government bond yields were largely steady after rising in opening trades on Tuesday, as traders cool their heels around key levels, and eye the response to the central bank's liquidity withdrawal operation. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was at 6.3173% as of 10:00 a.m. IST after closing at 6.3163% on Monday. The Reserve Bank of India will conduct a three-day variable rate reverse repo auction for 1 trillion rupees ($11.6 billion). This would be in addition to 1.52 trillion rupees that it withdrew from the banking system on Friday via a seven-day operation. This is the second straight week that the RBI is conducting a shorter duration cash withdrawal operation, after doing a seven-day equivalent. "The market will start absorbing such reverse repos and will not react much going ahead, like we are seeing today," a trader with a private bank said. India's weighted average interbank call money rate as well as weighted average tri-party repo rate eased on Monday, with the latter moving below the RBI's standing deposit facility rate of 5.25%. The facility acts as a floor for the monetary policy corridor. Meanwhile, India's annual retail inflation slowed to a more than six-year low of 2.10% in June, lower than the 2.5% estimated by economists in a Reuters poll and the 2.82% reading in May. This has led to economists trimming down their full-year inflation forecasts and expecting at least one more rate cut. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy and is an indicator of domestic demand, however, accelerated to 4.4%-4.5% in June, from 4.17%-4.20% in May, according to economists. India's overnight index swap rates were little changed with traders awaiting U.S. inflation data. The one-year OIS rate was at 5.54% and the two-year OIS rate was at 5.53%. The liquid five-year was at 5.71%. ($1 = 85.9290 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia)


Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
Shares to buy for short term: From JSW Energy to Oil India— 6 stock picks by experts for the next 2-3 weeks
Shares to buy for the short term: After four consecutive sessions of losses, the Indian stock market benchmark Nifty 50 traded with mild gains in the morning session on Tuesday (July 15). The benchmark index opened at 25,089.50 against its previous close of 25,082.30 and rose about 0.30 per cent to an intraday high of 25,155.80. Experts say while 25,000 remains the index's key support level, it may remain in a range unless it closes and sustains above 25,340. "Monday's candle held support at 25,000 and then bounced enough to generate a large-sized lower shadow -- that adds to evidence that the 25,000 area matters. That said, unless and until the index records at least one daily close above 25,340, near-term bulls need to remain cautious. This is because a drop into the 24,800 - 24,900 area still has decent chances. Asian cues from this morning are positive while US index futures are largely flat," said Akshay Chinchalkar, the head of research at Axis Securities. Market sentiment is cautious due to tariff-related uncertainties and a weak start to the Q1 results season. However, experts see plenty of stock-specific opportunities across segments. Vishnu Kant Upadhyay of Master Capital Services and Mandar Bhojane of Choice Broking suggested six stocks to buy for the next two to three weeks. Do you own any? JSW Energy is attempting to break out of a symmetrical triangle pattern, which has been forming over the past few sessions. This consolidation pattern, when coupled with rising volumes, often results in a strong directional move. What makes this setup compelling is the stock's ability to hold above crucial short-term support at ₹ 520, showing strength in a volatile market. "A close above ₹ 535 could open the gates for a sustained rally toward ₹ 580 and ₹ 590 levels. Traders can look to buy on dips with a stop-loss at ₹ 504 to protect capital," said Bhojane. Wockhardt has delivered a clean breakout from a bullish flag and pole formation on the daily chart, signalling the potential beginning of a strong upside rally. The breakout is validated by a sharp spike in volumes, suggesting participation from institutional hands. With price sustaining well above key moving averages and showing relative strength compared to the broader market, this counter appears well-placed for a short- to medium-term rally. "A close above ₹ 1,820 would reinforce the breakout. Any pullback toward ₹ 1,770 should be seen as a fresh buying opportunity. The risk-reward remains attractive with a stop-loss at ₹ 1,700," Bhojane said. Oil India is on the verge of breaking out from a descending triangle pattern on the daily chart. The stock has been consolidating in a narrow range and now shows signs of bullish intent, backed by a noticeable surge in trading volumes. "A decisive close above ₹ 448 could trigger a swift upmove toward ₹ 485 and then ₹ 500. The overall structure suggests accumulation at current levels, while ₹ 438 acts as a strong immediate support," said Bhojane. "Any intraday dip towards that zone can be used to initiate fresh longs. For risk control, a strict stop-loss should be maintained at ₹ 427," Bhojane said. V-Guard Industries has confirmed a bullish breakout from a complex inverse head and shoulders pattern on the weekly timeframe, indicating a medium-term structural reversal. On the daily chart, the price action is constructive, marked by higher highs and higher lows, with the stock consolidating near its breakout zone. It is trading above the 20, 50, 100, and 200 DEMAs, confirming bullish alignment. Volumes remain consistently above average, indicating steady accumulation. RSI is trending above 55, and MACD remains in buy mode, suggesting continued outperformance in the near term. Alivus Life Sciences has staged a bullish breakout from a well-defined consolidation base, confirmed by a wide-range bullish Marubozu candle and a notable uptick in volume, suggesting institutional participation. The price action decisively reclaimed key short- and long-term DEMAs (20, 50, 100, and 200), signalling a shift in momentum bias. RSI is inflecting higher from mid-zones, indicating strengthening momentum, while MACD is nearing a bullish crossover. "The chart structure implies a potential trend reversal, with sustained price action above ₹ 1,050 likely to extend the rally," said Upadhyay. Elgi Equipments has exhibited a decisive breakout from a multi-month inverse head and shoulders pattern on the weekly timeframe, marking a classic reversal formation. The breakout was validated by a notable expansion in volume, affirming institutional participation. A constructive pullback post-breakout, with price retesting the neckline zone, reflects bullish price action discipline. The stock maintains a positive structure of higher highs and higher lows, supported by its alignment above the 20, 50, 100, and 200-day DEMAs. RSI sustaining above 60 and a bullish MACD crossover further reinforce the underlying momentum. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations expressed are those of individual analysts or broking firms, not Mint. We advise investors to consult with certified experts before making any investment decisions, as market conditions can change rapidly and circumstances may vary.