I read this article and still walked away feeling like I didn’t understand the situation that well.
Is it $56 billion that he’s already been paid, and he needs to return it? $56 billion he’s partially been paid, and he can keep what he has, but won’t get the rest? Something more complicated?
Your article says:
What are options? Does this mean he didn’t receive this compensation yet, and now he simply won’t receive it, assuming the company doesn’t appeal or move states like the article mentions? It says he had the option to buy 304 million shares - I assume he can buy them at a deep, deep discount compared to their current price?
It’s a form of contract that allows (but does not obligate) a person to buy X amount of shares for Y price in the future, regardless of the going rate at the time.
It means he hasn’t executed on those options yet - he hasn’t yet bought those stocks at the price agreed.