Real estate company surprises employees with $10 million bonus

'I am still in shock. It's definitely life changing.'

A Maryland real estate company has left its 198 employees stunned after it announced $10 million in bonus at annual holiday party. 
St. John Properties was throwing a holiday party in Baltimore on Saturday when its employees were handed out red envelopes with surprise bonuses. According to CNN reports, although the amount each person received was based on tenure, the average bonus each one got was $50,000 (approx. Dh184,000) roughly.
So, the smallest amount was of $100 that was given to an employee who was just hired and had not even started work. While, the largest bonus was $270,000.
St. John Properties President, Lawrence Maykrantz, said that the massive bonus was as they had developed 20 million square feet in real estate, doubling the amount in 14 years. "We wanted to do something to thank all our employees for helping us achieve our goal, and we wanted to do something big," Maykrantz said.
Stephanie Ridgway, an assistant project manager at the company, said, "When I opened the envelope, I was in total disbelief. I don't even have words to properly describe how I felt, it was just amazing and incredible. I'm still in shock. It's definitely life changing."
The real estate company, which has eight different branches, flew in all their out-of-state employees and their guests and covered all airfare and hotel costs for the party.
"It was truly one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed in my life. Everyone was all overwhelmed with emotions. They were screaming, crying, laughing, hugging," Maykrantz added.