What is better, the perks and pay of a prestigious company, or the equity of a startup?

Perks and pay

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on your age and desires

Depends what you want. High risk, high reward or steady dependable and expected reward. The best is a place that is established with low risk of going out of business, but in a high growth time or a big project you can get in early on. These often are the most competitive places to work. Think Facebook in 2012, funded and stable, but still growing.

Depends on what stage you are in your career and what stake you have in the company.

For me personally and my life stage - perks & pay of a prestigious company. Many of my friends without kids yet are involved in startups and loving in - that might be my next stage after I'm an empty nester.

perks and pay

Perks and pay

Perks and pay, unless you are a professional gambler like Jeopardy's James Holzhauer, or have a year's salary stashed in your savings account.

perks and pay of a prestigious company

I think it depends on the role. If you have the chance to build something, and you enjoy building out processes and orgs, then the start-up life is definitely for you. But the perks and pay of a prestigious company provide stability and job security that a start-up just can't guarantee.

The perks and pay of a prestigious company

Perks and pay

Equity - I'd rather take on risk and work for potential payout of mission i believe in than be a comfortable cog

Both have advantages and disadvantages and it depends on what the person is looking for. In my case, I'd go for the startup's equity.