Table:
|  | Number of Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nonvested as of December 31, 2018 | 651,045 | $23.82 |
| Granted | 742,579 | 33.28 |
| Vested | -259,634 | 24.16 |
| Forfeited | -124,586 | 29.79 |
| Nonvested as of December 31, 2019 | 1,009,404 | $ 29.96 |
Paragraphs:
Restricted Share Units
During the year ended December 31, 2019, pursuant to the 2016 Incentive Plan, the Company granted restricted share unit awards (“RSUs”). RSUs generally have requisite service periods of three years and vest in increments of 33% on the anniversary of the grant dates. RSUs granted to our board vest one year from grant or as of the next annual shareholders meeting, whichever is earlier. Under each arrangement, RSUs are issued without direct cost to the employee on the vesting date. The Company estimates the fair value of the RSUs based upon the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense for RSUs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
A summary of nonvested RSUs is as follows:
During the year ended December 31, 2019, a total of 259,634 RSUs vested. The Company withheld 57,802 of those shares to pay the employees’ portion of the minimum payroll withholding taxes.
As of December 31, 2019, there was unrecognized compensation expense of $20.5 million related to RSUs, $15.0 million related to TSRs, $0.5 million related to LTIP performance shares, $0.3 million related to nonvested RSAs, and $0.2 million related to nonvested stock options, which the Company expects to recognize over weighted average periods of 1.9 years, 1.9 years, 0.1 years, 0.2 years, and 0.3 years, respectively.
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense recognized under ASC 718 during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, of $36.8 million, $20.4 million, and $13.7 million, respectively, with corresponding tax benefits of $5.9 million, $3.9 million, and $1.7 million, respectively. The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option awards that vest with only service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company recognizes compensation expense for stock option awards that vest with service and market-based conditions on a straight-line basis over the longer of the requisite service period or the estimated period to meet the defined market-based condition.
Question:
What was the number of vested shares in 2019?
Answer: 259,634