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- The $1 Salary Bet: Why Opendoor’s New Playbook Could Turn Sentiment into Shareholder Value
The $1 Salary Bet: Why Opendoor’s New Playbook Could Turn Sentiment into Shareholder Value
A Leadership Reset with Skin in the Game
Matthias Schneider
September 14, 2025
In partnership with
Hello Investors!
Opendoor’s turnaround didn’t start with a product announcement. But it is taking off with a $1 salary.
Kaz Nejatian, the company’s newly appointed CEO and former Shopify COO, made headlines not for what he took—but for what he didn’t. Nejatian opted for no cash compensation, aligning his outcome entirely with shareholders through equity. It’s a radical signal in a sector where CEOs are often insulated from stock performance.
This bold compensation structure is just one part of a sweeping leadership overhaul. Co-founders Keith Rabois and Eric Wu have returned to the board, with Rabois stepping in as Chairman. Together, they’ve injected $40 million in fresh equity capital via Khosla Ventures and personal funds—marking a tangible vote of confidence and a long-term “founder mode” reset.
This is not a theoretical pivot. It’s an operational overhaul aimed squarely at execution, product focus, and capital efficiency. Qualities the market has been demanding for years.
Matthias Schneider
Editor at Analytica Investor