Leading AI companies like OpenAI, Google, and xAI are engaged in an intense competition for elite AI researchers, offering multi-million dollar compensation packages. The scarcity of top talent has led to creative hiring strategies and retention efforts. Some researchers are receiving bonuses of $1-2 million and equity increases of $20 million or more. Companies are also recruiting from diverse fields like theoretical physics and quantum computing. This talent war has intensified following recent high-profile departures from major AI labs.