In a riveting episode of People by WTF, hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, a fascinating story of ambition, loyalty, and tech-world drama unfolded. The guest? None other than YouTube CEO Neal Mohan — the Lucknow-born man who once received a jaw-dropping ₹855 crore stock offer from Google just to keep him from jumping ship to Twitter.
The ₹855 Crore Moment That Changed Silicon Valley’s Course
Back in 2011, as Twitter was rapidly expanding and scouting for dynamic leadership, they had their eyes set on Neal Mohan for the role of Chief Product Officer. Mohan, already a product visionary at Google, seemed like the perfect fit. With Twitter rebranding and pushing into new territories, it was ready to roll out the red carpet. But Google wasn’t about to lose one of its brightest minds.
In a move that would go down in corporate lore, Google offered Mohan a staggering $100 million (approximately ₹855 crore) in restricted stock units. These were structured to vest over time, essentially tying him to the company’s future and ensuring his continued influence on its most crucial products. This unprecedented counteroffer worked — and Neal Mohan stayed.
Kamath brought up this now-legendary moment during their conversation: “I remember reading this thing about Google offering you $100 million not to quit… not today, but 15 years ago, which was a lot of money.” Mohan responded with a smile and silence — which, in the world of high-stakes tech negotiations, was confirmation enough.
A Childhood Split Between Lucknow and Silicon Dreams
Long before Mohan became a key player in Google’s war room, he was just another young boy walking the hallways of St. Francis’ College in Lucknow. His family had moved back to India in 1986 from the U.S., where his father was completing a doctoral degree after attending IIT. Adjusting to India was tough for young Mohan, especially with his American accent and shaky Hindi. But it also helped shape the resilient, cross-cultural thinker he would become.
“Coming here… I sounded funny. I didn’t have those immediate things to connect with people,” he recalled during the podcast. But even then, his love for technology remained unwavering. “I had a little software startup in high school,” Mohan revealed, recalling how he built educational tools for classmates and teachers — an early hint of the product genius he would later become.
From Lucknow to Stanford to Leading YouTube
After finishing his schooling in Lucknow, Mohan headed back to the U.S. to study electrical engineering at Stanford University. That marked the beginning of his ascent through the tech universe. His career, shaped by deep technical knowledge and a user-first product philosophy, eventually led him to helm YouTube — one of the world’s most influential platforms today.
What makes his story exceptional is not just the billion-dollar figures or executive titles, but the rare blend of grounded beginnings and global impact. In a world where tech leaders often seem detached from reality, Mohan’s reflections on his humble roots and cultural adjustments make his journey all the more compelling.
The Legacy of Saying ‘No’
Mohan’s decision to stay at Google might seem like just another business deal, but in hindsight, it was a turning point for both companies. Had he joined Twitter, its product trajectory could have been vastly different. Instead, he went on to help shape some of Google’s most powerful tools — and now oversees the future of content as YouTube’s CEO.
So yes, Google paid him a fortune not to leave. But perhaps what they truly bought was time — and the continued brilliance of a small-town boy from Lucknow who never stopped dreaming in code.
( Originally published on May 28, 2025 )
The ₹855 Crore Moment That Changed Silicon Valley’s Course
Back in 2011, as Twitter was rapidly expanding and scouting for dynamic leadership, they had their eyes set on Neal Mohan for the role of Chief Product Officer. Mohan, already a product visionary at Google, seemed like the perfect fit. With Twitter rebranding and pushing into new territories, it was ready to roll out the red carpet. But Google wasn’t about to lose one of its brightest minds.
In a move that would go down in corporate lore, Google offered Mohan a staggering $100 million (approximately ₹855 crore) in restricted stock units. These were structured to vest over time, essentially tying him to the company’s future and ensuring his continued influence on its most crucial products. This unprecedented counteroffer worked — and Neal Mohan stayed.
Kamath brought up this now-legendary moment during their conversation: “I remember reading this thing about Google offering you $100 million not to quit… not today, but 15 years ago, which was a lot of money.” Mohan responded with a smile and silence — which, in the world of high-stakes tech negotiations, was confirmation enough.
A Childhood Split Between Lucknow and Silicon Dreams
Long before Mohan became a key player in Google’s war room, he was just another young boy walking the hallways of St. Francis’ College in Lucknow. His family had moved back to India in 1986 from the U.S., where his father was completing a doctoral degree after attending IIT. Adjusting to India was tough for young Mohan, especially with his American accent and shaky Hindi. But it also helped shape the resilient, cross-cultural thinker he would become.
“Coming here… I sounded funny. I didn’t have those immediate things to connect with people,” he recalled during the podcast. But even then, his love for technology remained unwavering. “I had a little software startup in high school,” Mohan revealed, recalling how he built educational tools for classmates and teachers — an early hint of the product genius he would later become.
From Lucknow to Stanford to Leading YouTube
After finishing his schooling in Lucknow, Mohan headed back to the U.S. to study electrical engineering at Stanford University. That marked the beginning of his ascent through the tech universe. His career, shaped by deep technical knowledge and a user-first product philosophy, eventually led him to helm YouTube — one of the world’s most influential platforms today.
What makes his story exceptional is not just the billion-dollar figures or executive titles, but the rare blend of grounded beginnings and global impact. In a world where tech leaders often seem detached from reality, Mohan’s reflections on his humble roots and cultural adjustments make his journey all the more compelling.
The Legacy of Saying ‘No’
Mohan’s decision to stay at Google might seem like just another business deal, but in hindsight, it was a turning point for both companies. Had he joined Twitter, its product trajectory could have been vastly different. Instead, he went on to help shape some of Google’s most powerful tools — and now oversees the future of content as YouTube’s CEO.
So yes, Google paid him a fortune not to leave. But perhaps what they truly bought was time — and the continued brilliance of a small-town boy from Lucknow who never stopped dreaming in code.
( Originally published on May 28, 2025 )
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