AI salaries are ballooning up to US$700K and are widening wealth gaps between partners — why you should consider prenups and postnups

A typical salary for a senior AI scientist ranges from US$300,000 to US$600,000+, while an AI product director could earn between US$350,000 to US$700,000+, according to a reports by Forbes (1). And that doesn’t include sign-on bonuses and equity packages. For example, a distinguished AI researcher could earn more than US$1 million plus an equity package.

Some tech companies are even negotiating nine-figure compensation packages with young AI researchers, reports The New York Times (2).

While that may be good news for the employee’s bank account, it could also strain their closest relationship.

About a quarter of couples in a Fidelity survey said money is their greatest relationship challenge (3). When one partner significantly out earns the other, it can lead to power imbalances and resentment.

Should you get a prenup or postnup?

One in four respondents to a survey by workplace forum Blind found that higher compensation related to the AI frenzy had changed the way they split expenses with their partner. And 9% said it made them think differently about prenups (4).

A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract signed by couples before tying the knot that outlines the division of assets and debts, as well as spousal support, in the event of a separation, divorce or death — overriding default state laws.

Indeed, prenups have increasingly become an expectation among tech workers looking to get hitched. “A prenup is thinking about the near future and the far future and the what-if future,” Sam Mockford, associate wealth adviser at Citrine Capital, told The New York Times. “And when you’re looking at equity, there’s a lot that’s variable about your future wealth (5).”

Prenups are also less taboo than they used to be — even if it’s still awkward to have that conversation. More than half of Gen Z (52%) want their partner to sign a prenup, whether they’re about to get married or they’re entering into a common-law relationship, according to a TD survey. Outside of that cohort, the national average is still high, at 31% (6).

That could be, in part, because couples are more likely to marry later in life. The median age for a first marriage in Canada was 28.5 years old in 2020, according to Statistics Canada (7). Some may be getting married for the second time or have children from a previous union. Additionally, they may have already accumulated significant assets (or debts), leading to a prenup being top of mind.

It’s not just men asking for prenups, either. About half (52%) of prenups are initiated by women, according to the HelloPrenup 2024 Prenuptial Agreement Insights Report, which highlights “the initiative women are taking to have financial conversations early and ensure that their wealth is protected throughout their marriage (8).”

Gujri Singh, 31, who joined OpenAI in 2023, told The New York Times that having a future partner sign a prenup is nonnegotiable for her. She believes her hefty starting salary will “not be the totality” of what she earns over the course of her career. “I’m, quite frankly, just getting started (9).”

What about a postnup?

What happens if you’re already married without a prenup, and one partner gets a sudden injection of cash — whether it’s a new job, an inheritance or some other windfall?

Postnuptial agreements are an option for protecting wealth acquired after marriage. They can be used to safeguard newly acquired assets, like a business or inheritance, or if one partner’s income changes dramatically.

While Canadian provinces and territories recognize postnups, courts may scrutinize them more closely to ensure they haven’t been signed under pressure. You’ll want to talk to a lawyer about your options and make sure any postnup agreement is properly structured so it holds up legally.

How to have the prenup conversation

Let’s face it, talking about a prenup is probably going to be a little awkward. Although 7 in 10 Canadians agree that financial transparency is important in relationships, 41% of couples only had the ‘money talk’ after they had already moved in together or around the time they got married, the TD survey found (10).

Similarly, a study from Ally found that 55% of millennial and Gen Z couples who were about to tie the knot were uncomfortable discussing a prenup as part of their wedding planning, despite the fact they’re generally comfortable discussing money overall (11).

One way to bring up the topic of a prenup — without offending your soon-to-be spouse — is to frame it as a way to protect your mutual security. After all, a prenup can protect you from your partner’s debts or safeguard an inheritance for your children from a previous marriage.

A prenup can also spell out the financial responsibilities of each partner, which can take some stress off once you’re married. Essentially, it can be viewed as a collaborative tool to help manage your mutual finances, rather than insurance against the failure of a marriage.