I would not gamble on any "magic beans" (future earning from stock). If they have the cash, let them double your salary to stay. If they don't have the cash (an

I would not gamble on any "magic beans" (future earning from stock). If they have the cash, let them double your salary to stay. If they don't have the cash (and they probably don't), take the other position. You were going to get screwed in the end even with a "successful" startup. While the founders will share the profits you realize that you weren't going to? Like you alluded to, the VC's an maybe founders will have preferences that mean you get nothing. There will some reason but the end you will end up working for less than you are worth in order to enrich others. As I like to think of it "I can't afford to subsidize your business any more." You have to view this as business - a value for value relationship.