businessneutral

Elon Musk's Big Ask: Should Tesla Make Him a Trillionaire?

Austin, Texas, USAThursday, November 6, 2025
Advertisement

Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is asking Tesla shareholders for a massive pay package. If approved, it could make him the first trillionaire in history. The vote is happening at Tesla's annual meeting in Austin, Texas. This has sparked a lot of debate.

Supporters' Perspective

  • Genius Leadership: Some believe Musk deserves this pay because he's a genius.
  • Future Vision: They think he can lead Tesla to a future with self-driving cars and robot workers.
  • Motivation: They argue the pay will motivate him to stay focused on Tesla's goals.

Opponents' Perspective

  • Excessive Compensation: Others think the pay is too much and that Musk's recent behavior is reckless.
  • Lack of Independence: Some pension funds and big investors are against the package, worrying that the board is too close to Musk.
  • Criticism from Musk: Musk has criticized some of the package's critics, calling them "corporate terrorists."

Conditions for Full Pay

To get the full pay, Musk has to meet several big goals:

  • Sell 20 million Teslas in 10 years.
  • Increase the company's market value and profits.
  • Deliver one million robots.

Even if he doesn't meet all the goals, he could still get a lot of money.

Musk's Wealth and Ambitions

  • Historical Comparison: Musk is already worth more than many historical figures like Cornelius Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie, but he's still behind John D. Rockefeller.
  • Control Over Tesla: Musk says he wants more control over Tesla, especially with the company's future "robot army."

Investor Reactions

  • Support: Many investors support the package.
  • Opposition: Big names like Calpers and Norway's sovereign wealth fund are against it. Even the Vatican has spoken out against the wealth gap and the trillion-dollar offer.

Musk's Record at Tesla

  • Mixed Results: The company's stock has gone up a lot, but Musk has also broken many promises.
  • Recent Actions: His recent actions have not inspired confidence.
  • Past Successes: However, he has pulled off big successes before.

Actions