> But sadly, most Google employees did seem to buy it. What makes you say that? Everyone I know is aware that Google was doing dirt, but salaries were going up

> But sadly, most Google employees did seem to buy it. What makes you say that? Everyone I know is aware that Google was doing dirt, but salaries were going up so fast at the time it hardly mattered. Especially when the collusion ended we went through several years of absurd salary growth. Even during the period of collusion, Google was being pretty generous with compensation (e.g. this event -- https://www.businessinsider.com/google-options-repricing-bails-out-15642-employees-2009-3 https://www.businessinsider.com/google-options-repricing-bai...). Every programmer who was there at that time and has stayed has either been spending profligately or is fairly wealthy at this point.