"He took shares instead of a salary. What does this tell you?" Tells me he got free shares that are a profit
If he takes cash, he gets his $250K. If he takes shares, he either gest $250K if the price stays the same, or less if the price drops. OR more if the price goes up. Pretty simple.
You can try to paint this in a negative light but that's silly talk. It is a huge positive.
And the shares aren't "free" anymore than the $250K in cash would be free. He's earning it either way, and he chose shares.