Detail missing from this article (at least the article linked as I write this comment): Neil Dana was GoPro employee #1 and still works at the company. This detail is seemingly absent from a bunch of news articles, and that fact really surprises me. It's like the news wants to make this sound more controversial than it really should be; they clearly want to play up the "college roommate" aspect and describe the move as "generous", rather than the "employee #1" aspect.

Woodman and Dana reportedly had a contract that Dana would receive 10% on sales of Woodman's stock, as first employee and head of sales, and Woodman is honoring the contract. It's not just, as far as I can tell, some kind of donation or obscure college bet. Sure, the contract was verbal. I still don't think we should be /astonished/ that someone honors an employment contract that was made for equity. That's setting the bar rather low, isn't it?

As a European, I often read HN in awe, but this beats it.

I find it a testament to American culture that the vast majority of commenters here are amazed that someone kept a promise.

How can you do business like that? If you can never just look someone in the eye and make a deal?

Reminds me of the bit Chris Rock used to do about taking credit for stuff you're supposed to do

"I take care of my kids, I take them to school!" he says proudly

"That's what's you suppose to do you dumb M---F!"

Woodman should be commended for keeping his word.

Not only does this light the way for other CEOs to keep their word, it enhances Woodman's future standing with investors, employees and any other stakeholders.

I really doubt Dana and Woodman were thinking about it at the time, but this is a kind of a nice way to structure an equity compensation contract with early employees or investors.

Instead of saying "I want x% of the company's shares," employees are probably better off looking at the most powerful person at the company and saying "I want y% of everything he makes."

What has happened to journalism? Is anyone else on here sick of reading typos. "GoProp". Can't even get the name of the company right.

This shouldn't be special or surprising news; but its certainly nice to see.

The title of this article is very misleading. The "promise" was already turned into a legally binding agreement. It's not like he's just now deciding to honor it, which the title implies.

Can someone explain this story to me ELI5-style (like I'm 5 years-old)?

That is a very standup move.

This guy is amazing for that.