What Matters? The Number of Shares I'm Granted or the Percent Ownership of the Company

The percentage ownership of a company is what matters. Company's authorize and issue shares for a variety of reasons. A billion dollar company could have 10 shares each valued at $100 million each, 10 billion shares valued at $0.10 each, or an near infinite number of other combinations. The percent of the company that your shares (or equity grants) comprise relative to the fully diluted share count of the company is what allows you to better understand and compare your grant/ownership.