Figma’s hotly anticipated IPO isn’t just making noise on Wall Street it’s rewriting the stakes for founder Dylan Field. Demand for the design software company’s shares has skyrocketed, reportedly 40 times more than supply. And with Field’s equity stake, past awards, and a Tesla-inspired compensation plan, he’s poised to become one of the tech world’s newest mega-rich, perhaps even rivalling the legends who came before him.
Investors are lining up, and if Figma’s stock delivers even modest gains post-listing, Field’s net worth could jump from impressive to eye-watering. The numbers behind it all are wild and the structure? Unapologetically ambitious.
Tech’s Favorite New Compensation Fantasy
Dylan Field’s 2025 comp plan looks like it was scribbled on the back of a napkin by Elon Musk himself.
It’s not just big. It’s loaded with risk and reward, wrapped in a package only the boldest CEOs dare to accept. The setup grants Field 14.5 million performance-based shares split into seven parts, each triggered only if Figma’s stock clears increasing thresholds starting at $60 and maxing out at $130.
There’s no instant gratification here.
-
The 60-day average price needs to consistently cross each level.
-
The vesting is stretched over seven years, adding time pressure to performance pressure.
-
Hitting the top mark could unlock $1.9 billion not immediately, but slowly, year by year.
For context, this is the same model that catapulted Musk’s Tesla compensation into headlines and boardrooms. DoorDash, Broadcom, and Axon have similar systems, with Axon’s Rick Smith turning his package into a $2.5 billion personal win.
The IPO Stakes Are Already Wild
Field’s not waiting on those seven tranches to start counting commas.
At the low end of Figma’s IPO range $30 a share his 11% direct stake is already worth around $1.6 billion. That’s real money, not theoretical. On top of that, he holds voting rights on another 27 million shares linked to co-founder Evan Wallace. In terms of power, Field isn’t just the face of Figma he practically controls its voice, too.
And there’s more.
A 2021 grant gave Field 22.5 million shares. He’s likely to vest the remaining 7.9 million service-based shares right at IPO. Valued at more than $230 million, they’ll add another layer to his rising fortune, although taxes could take a solid bite out of it.
Bonus Round: Valuation-Linked Awards
There’s another reward path, and it’s tied not to stock price, but to how big the company actually becomes.
Field stands to gain up to 11.25 million additional shares if Figma hits key market cap targets. These kick in at $15 billion, $20 billion, and $25 billion figures that no longer sound far-fetched. Bloomberg Intelligence projects Figma’s valuation post-IPO to range from $19.1 billion to $23.2 billion.
Which means those extra shares? They’re now well within reach.
Figma’s recent decision to raise prices adds another tailwind, potentially boosting post-IPO revenue growth. Analysts think the company could generate $1.6 billion in annual revenue by 2026. That kind of growth doesn’t just help the business it supercharges Field’s shot at re-entering the $2 billion club.
The Tesla Blueprint Goes Viral
Why are tech companies suddenly doling out these “moonshot” pay plans like candy?
Because they work when the stars align.
In Field’s case, the Elon-style plan serves a few purposes. It rewards patience, demands execution, and ties compensation directly to shareholder value. It also avoids short-termism. CEOs can’t just chase quarterly wins to cash out they need long-term, durable results.
And for boards, there’s minimal downside. If targets aren’t met, the shares aren’t earned. Simple.
But it’s also a bet. A big one. And not everyone lands the plane.
A Fortune That Almost Happened Already
Let’s not forget: Dylan Field nearly hit billionaire status once before.
Back in 2022, Adobe was set to acquire Figma for $20 billion. The deal collapsed under regulatory heat, but had it gone through, Field’s net worth would’ve skyrocketed well past $2 billion. In a twist of fate, the failed acquisition might end up making him richer on his own terms.
He now holds tighter control over the company. He’s free from integration limbo. And he’s got Wall Street salivating over a business that could redefine the way digital collaboration is built.
So yeah, the Adobe chapter may have ended. But the Figma story? It’s just getting interesting.
