The Myth of the Portable Superstar

The tech industry is locked in a bidding war for AI superstars, with eye-watering salaries and signing bonuses meant to buy an edge in a fast-moving race. Yet history offers a cautionary tale: brilliance does not always travel well. In this episode, we explore why star performers often stumble when transplanted into new firms, how success is shaped by culture, teams, and institutional support, and what studies from finance and law reveal about the hidden costs of the superstar strategy. As companies bet big on individual genius, the story asks whether competitive advantage is really something you can poach—or something you have to build.https://www.economist.com/business/2025/07/17/are-superstars-as-good-when-they-move-jobs