Blue Origin Reworks Stock Options After 10-Year Plan Left Some Employees With $0
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jun 26
Blue Origin Reworks Stock Options After 10-Year Plan Left Some Employees With $0
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jun 26
Summary
Blue Origin rolled out a new employee stock-option plan in April, adding more paths to cash out after its earlier program left some former workers with expired, worthless equity.
The old plan, launched in 2016, allowed payouts only in an IPO or company sale and expired 10 years after vesting began — a structure former employees said made the options effectively unusable.
That contrasted sharply with SpaceX, where regular private liquidity events let current and former staff sell vested shares; 9,000 options granted in 2016 would now be worth at least $1.35 million after its $2 trillion-plus IPO.
The gap has become more painful as SpaceX pulls ahead commercially, while Blue Origin is rebuilding after New Glenn exploded on the launch pad last month.
As Blue Origin copies its rival's equity model, can it ever truly close the immense innovation gap with SpaceX?
SpaceX's IPO made staff rich, but does its structure rig the market against the average person?
Blue Origin’s 2026 Stock Option Revamp: Addressing “Monopoly Money” Legacy and the Battle for Aerospace Talent
Overview
In April 2026, Blue Origin launched a new stock option plan aimed at boosting its ability to attract and retain top talent, which is essential for the company’s ongoing projects and future ambitions. Senior leaders presented this plan as a major step for the workforce, hoping it would strengthen Blue Origin’s position in the competitive aerospace talent market. However, the rollout was met with skepticism from employees, especially regarding the leadership of Limp and Bezos. This reaction highlighted the urgent need for clear and consistent communication from leadership to address concerns and build trust around the new initiative.