On $\frac{1}{2}\frac{?}{24}$ Pod Company purchased $25\%$ of the outstanding common stock of Jobs, Inc. and subsequently used the equity method to account for the investment. During $2024$ Jobs, Inc. reported net income of $$1,260,000$ and distributed dividends of $$540,000.$ The ending balance in the Investment in Pod Company account at $\frac{12}{31}\frac{?}{24}$ was $$960,000$ after applying the equity method during $2024.$ What was the purchase price Pod Company paid for its investment in Jobs, Inc?

a$.$ $$510,000$

b$.$ $$780,000$

c$.$ $$1,140,000$

d$.$ $$1,410,000$