When "cash" is mentioned in the context of selling a company, it means it was a straight money payment as opposed to "stock" ownership. For example, when Insta

When "cash" is mentioned in the context of selling a company, it means it was a straight money payment as opposed to "stock" ownership. For example, when Instagram was sold to Facebook, the founders got some "cash" but most of the 1 $billion payment was in the form of "Facebook stock" that vests over some set # of years and/or has restrictions from selling it immediately. And yes, the "cash" portion of a huge multi-million dollar transaction would be a bank wire. Context of buying companies: pay by "cash" or "stock" Context of buying groceries: pay by "cash" or "check" or "credit card"