On top of valuation - there are lots of catches when taking equity. vesting periods, clauses, up-front tax, requiring to exercise options (at your own expense,

On top of valuation - there are lots of catches when taking equity. vesting periods, clauses, up-front tax, requiring to exercise options (at your own expense, could cost $100k's) when leaving the company, being fired just before your first vesting if they do well. How long will it take to get your hands on the money. Will you get the money if the company is brought out, or what factors will determine if you get a share of that money or not. You may want to get a lawyer involved. More simply just make sure the cash is enough and the equity can be a lottery ticket which you can view as $1 extra salary. Worth trying to negotiate any horrid clauses though. I would personally play it by ignoring the shares part and just ask for more cash if you are not happy with the amount they are paying. If you want to get rich (disclaimer I am not rich) I would suggest earning as much $ as you can, living as cheaply as you can and invest in good stocks and real estate in very desirable locations. Then each year concentrate on how you can increase your income so you can invest more. You will wake up in 20 years time and think "oops I got a lotta money" to paraphrase Blur.