This problem occurs exactly when founding a business - how do you apportion equity ownership when one central founder is essential, and co-founders have a multiplier effect on profitability? How do you deal with the uncertainty in the multiplier, or the future measurement of the multiplier?

The Shapley Value seems like a perfectly spherical moose optimum. A can create an annual profit of 100k, and A+B+C can create a profit 400k. A will only bring on B or C if A can get more than 100k.

Let us assume B is currently working in Chile and they would accept 40k (better than their current pay), and C works in the US and 120k is their minimum acceptable payoff to change jobs. The potential groups are:

* option X: A profit 100k

* option Y: A+B profit 200k, and A+B could argue over how to split the 60k excess.

* option Z: A+B+C profit 400k, and A+B+C could argue over how to split a 140k excess.

Or A just starts the business and keeps 100% ownership, and A offers B 40k, and offers C 120k, and A pays themselves 240k and A also gets 100% of the market value of the business. B + C complain that’s unfair, but accept the jobs anyway.