Paying $180K for options worth $350K (over 4 years) isn&#x27;t a terrible trade - that&#x27;s about an 18% IRR annually, even ignoring that the $180K was a stream of $45K annually instead of a lump sum.  He could&#x27;ve done better elsewhere in SV, but I guess this is why the article says it&#x27;s enough to buy the world&#x27;s smallest violin.