In an unexpected grand gesture, Nomura Holdings Taiwan, a leading investment firm, gifted every one of its employees an iPhone 17 Pro Max at the company’s year-end party. This generous move, which left social media in shock, was not a raffle or dependent on performance rankings. Regardless of their position or tenure, each person present at the event received the same sought-after smartphone.
The company’s decision to distribute these costly gifts was unveiled during a packed banquet in Taiwan. Projected onto a screen in the crowded hall, the announcement told attendees that the iPhones were a token of gratitude for their invaluable contributions during the year.
Nomura Holdings Taiwan, a subsidiary of the Japanese financial services group Nomura Holdings, has been operational in Taiwan since 1998. Currently considered one of the top five foreign investment firms on the island, it boasts a registered capital of around US$11 million.
The company’s decision to reward its employees in such a lavish manner followed a period of record-breaking growth in Taiwan’s stock market and robust profits across the investment industry in 2025. The move was seen as a fitting way to thank staff for their hard work and dedication.
The scale of the party was impressive, with an estimated 20 to 30 tables filling the room and around 300 employees in attendance. A bystander, claiming to work at the venue, described the iPhone giveaway as the most extravagant employee gift they had ever witnessed.
Images from inside the banquet hall showed employees lifting their new iPhones in the air to record the announcement, sparking gasps and cheers of delight from the crowd.
The online response was swift and widespread, with many expressing disbelief and jealousy at the grand gesture. Some even jokingly asked if there were any open positions at the company.
To put the generosity of the gift into perspective, in Taiwan, an iPhone 17 Pro Max currently retails for approximately US$1,425.
What did Nomura Holdings Taiwan gift to its employees at the year-end party?
Each employee received an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Why did the company decide to give out such generous gifts?
The gifts were given to express gratitude for the employees’ contributions throughout the year, particularly in light of the record-high growth in Taiwan’s stock market and strong profits across the investment industry.
What was the reaction to the company’s gesture?
The in-person and online reaction was one of shock and admiration. Some online commenters even jokingly asked if the company was hiring.
