Sorry, Google -- Groupon would rather sell to Exxon

By CNNMoney staff


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Sure, the fact that it can afford to drop a few billion makes Google an attractive suitor for Groupon, but it's not 30-year-old founder and CEO Andrew Mason's first choice. He'd rather something more offbeat.

Like McDonald's. Or Exxon (XOM, Fortune 500).

That's what he said two months ago, when CNNMoney video producer Matt Stuart popped the question during an October shoot for Fortune magazine's "40 under 40" special. (Mason made his debut on this year's list of influential young business leaders at #25.)

Check out Mason's tongue-in-cheek answer to the takeover question, including his hope that "someone totally weird" takes a run at his company. That clip didn't make it into the "40 under 40" video (it's running here for the first time) -- proving the old newsroom axiom that the best material often does end up on the cutting-room floor.

And remember, this is the same CEO who told Fortune about his personal archery range, but confessed to the New York Times that his real passion is "building miniature dollhouses."

Sorry, Google. He's just not that into you.

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