Revolut Discusses a $500 Billion Founder Award. The Talks Start Before Its $200 Billion IPO Target Is Reached

Revolut is in discussions with investors over a new staged incentive plan for chief executive Nik Storonsky that would trigger payouts at a $500 billion valuation, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The talks come before the company has even reached the $200 billion valuation that its existing incentive scheme and a potential IPO are tied to, and more than four times above its latest $115 billion secondary-round valuation.

The proposed package follows the structure of Storonsky's current arrangement, with share-based rewards released in stages as valuation milestones are hit. A final agreement has not been announced. Storonsky, who co-founded Revolut in 2015, currently holds roughly 29% of the business. Under the existing plan, he would receive an additional 10% stake once Revolut reaches a $200 billion valuation, lifting his holding to about 40% and valuing his stake at roughly $80 billion.

Revolut's valuation has risen sharply in recent years, from around $45 billion in 2024 to $75 billion after a November 2025 secondary sale and then to $115 billion in the current round. Even at that pace, it remains well below the $200 billion threshold underpinning the current incentive scheme, let alone the $500 billion target now under discussion.

Compensation packages linked to valuation milestones are common in the US technology sector but rare in Europe. Tesla agreed to a trillion-dollar package for Elon Musk in November tied to a series of growth targets, and a finalised Storonsky deal would mark the largest such incentive in Europe. One Revolut investor expressed support for the approach, saying programmes that combine "meaningful investment and risk-taking with very ambitious targets" should be used by more companies.

Scale and outlook

Revolut now serves 75 million customers in 40 countries. Pre-tax profit increased 57% last year to £1.7 billion on revenue of £4.5 billion, driven mainly by premium subscription products. The company holds a full UK banking licence, has received approval for one in Australia and is applying for a licence in the US. Its backers include Index Ventures, Balderton, DST Global, Ribbit, Mubadala and Jared Kushner's Affinity. Any finalisation of the $500 billion terms will depend on Revolut first clearing the $200 billion milestone around which its current package and IPO ambitions are built.