What does walking away from equity cost?

Short answer: it is not how much a new package pays. It is what you give up on the way out: unvested RSUs, options still inside a cliff, refreshers that have not started, a sign-on grant with a clawback window.

Vested value you can keep is not walk-away cost. Paper from a private company is not cash. Discount that paper if you do not trust the mark. A $100k line is not $100k in the bank.

FAQ

Is vested equity walk-away cost? No. Walk-away cost is the unvested value you forfeit. Vested value you can keep is outside that number.

Do I need a competing package to name it? No. Current grants and a leave date are enough to see the cost. A competing package is only needed if you want the comparison.

Does private-company paper count as cash? No. Private paper is a mark, not a sale. Haircut it if you do not want face value. Do not silently blend it with liquid value.

If you want a private figure from the grants you actually hold, Worth Leaving is a private calculator. Longer product surface: Walk-away cost.