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They have to take out loans and exercise their options before they expire.

• thebean11 7y ago
  > exercise their options before they expire Usually employee options don't expire until some amount of time after you leave the company
  • nemo44x 7y ago
    Not true. Most options expire 10 years from grant date regardless of your employment status. This means fully vested option holders have 6 years from grant to exercise.
    • jzl 7y ago
      Yep, and according to things I've previously read, AirBnb switched to RSUs in 2014 and those all have a 7 year expiration date.
      • thebean11 7y ago
        I'm only familiar with RSUs in a public company, how can an RSU expire after vest? I thought once it lapses you simply own a share.
        • enra 7y ago
          Taxes. If company is not public, and the RSU converts, employees are hit with 30-50% income tax for the stock value you cannot easily sell.
        • yibg 7y ago
          Probably some sort of double trigger RSU, where the trigger event is likely an IPO or acquisition.