if you have world-class tech guys working for you then don't support them, just tie them up in contracts, and when they leave and become successful you can sue

if you have world-class tech guys working for you then don't support them, just tie them up in contracts, and when they leave and become successful you can sue them to get 25% of whatever they made, at zero risk to you. He was free to not let id get bought out or to take a lower paying offering elsewhere.