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CEO fired 900 on Zoom wants job back
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Vishal Garg, fired 900 Better.com staff on Zoom in 2021, now demands his CEO job back after being ousted on Aug 3. He offers $1 salary until profitability, but board.
Background
Vishal Garg, founder of Better.com, became infamous in December 2021 for firing about 900 employees over a Zoom call just before Christmas. He was removed as CEO on August 3, 2026, and replaced by Daniel Lewis. Garg has hired high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro and sent a letter to the board demanding reinstatement, offering to work for $1 a year until the company is profitable.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2021Vishal Garg fires about 900 employees over a Zoom call, drawing widespread criticism.
- Aug 3, 2026Garg is removed as CEO of Better Home & Finance and replaced by Daniel Lewis.
- Aug 10, 2026Garg sends a letter to the board demanding reinstatement as CEO, offering to work for $1 a year until profitability.
- recentlyGarg retains lawyer Alex Spiro and claims he has the votes from Class B shareholders to win reinstatement.
Who’s saying what
- Garg
- Garg says he was 'hoodwinked' and believes the future remains bright for Better, offering to work for $1 a year.
- Board
- The board removed Garg and replaced him with Daniel Lewis, indicating a loss of confidence in his leadership.
Still unverified
Garg's claim that he has the votes to win reinstatement is based on his own statement and has not been independently confirmed.