GoPro Founder Gives First Employee $229 Million

Photo by David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

GoPro CEO and multi-billionaire, Nick Woodman, is making news today for fulfilling a promise to his college roommate and first employee.

Woodman returned 4.7 million shares of GoPro on Monday to repay the company shares it had given Neil Dana in 2011. Dana was Woodman’s first employee.

According to reports the action sports camera guru promised Dana 10% of any proceeds he received from sale of GoPro’s shares, a fact that was included in the 2014 company prospects.

Dana is currently GoPro’s Director of Music and Specialty Sales. His shares are now worth $229 million.

Woodman earned $285.3 million in 2014 compensation making him the highest-pad executive in the United Sates.

It’s too bad for Dana however that Woodman wasn’t able to give the gift of 4.7 million shares in October 2014 when GoPro’s stock was trading around $90 a share. It’s current price is $49.85.

Neil Dana – pictured left – with an early version of a GoPro. Photo courtesy: GoPro