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Tesla offers biggest pay package ever to CEO Elon Musk

Tesla proposes a $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk tied to ambitious growth targets over the next decade.

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By Olivia Hall

3 min read

Tesla CEO Elon Mask. Image Credit: NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs
Tesla CEO Elon Mask. Image Credit: NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

Tesla has proposed an unprecedented compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that could reach nearly $1 trillion over the next decade. The pay deal hinges on Musk growing Tesla’s market value from just over $1 trillion today to an extraordinary $8.5 trillion.

The company is seeking shareholder approval for this historic incentive plan. If Musk meets the ambitious targets, he will receive around 423 million additional Tesla shares as compensation.

These shares currently have an approximate value of $143 billion. The plan also boosts Musk’s stake in Tesla well beyond 25%, reinforcing his position as the company’s largest shareholder.

What are the terms of Elon Musk’s new Tesla pay package?

The new pay package ties Musk’s compensation entirely to Tesla’s performance, requiring a near eightfold increase in the company’s market cap.

The stocks would be awarded in 12 tranches based on achieving specific financial and operational goals.

If all targets are met, Musk’s fortune could top $2 trillion, making him the richest individual ever.

Musk must remain CEO for the entire period, and the plan includes stringent conditions compared to his previous deals.

Shareholders must approve the deal, continuing oversight to link pay tightly with company achievements.

Did you know?
Tesla’s $8.5 trillion valuation target is roughly double the market cap of the current largest chipmaker Nvidia.

How ambitious are the growth targets Musk must meet?

Tesla’s board expects market capitalization to swell from about $1.1 trillion to $8.5 trillion over 10 years. This figure is more than double the current market cap of Nvidia, the world’s largest chipmaker.

The targets require massive growth in profits and expansion into new markets and technologies.

To achieve this, Musk will need to overcome intense competition in electric vehicles and demonstrate innovation in autonomous driving and artificial intelligence amid broader business distractions related to his multiple ventures.

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What operational milestones does Tesla expect?

Key operational targets include delivering 20 million vehicles, achieving 1 million active robotaxis on the roads, and producing 1 million humanoid robots known as AI bots.

The pay plan also focuses on hitting profit milestones that are 28 times higher than those set in Musk’s 2018 pay deal.

These targets reflect Tesla’s vision to become a leader not only in electric vehicles but also in autonomous transportation and robotics.

Reaching them would require significant advances in manufacturing, software, and artificial intelligence.

Why is the pay package controversial and debated?

Critics question the justification of such a massive pay package and whether it represents poor corporate governance. Previous Musk pay deals faced legal challenges over conflicts of interest and excessive rewards.

Some investors worry the targets are unrealistic and that Musk’s political activities may distract from Tesla’s core operations.

Supporters argue the package aligns Musk’s rewards strictly with performance, pushing Tesla toward unprecedented growth under his visionary leadership. Shareholders will decide its fate in the coming months.

What does this mean for Tesla and CEO compensation?

If approved, the package would be the largest ever for a corporate executive, potentially setting a new standard for CEO pay.

It also reinforces Tesla’s dependence on Musk’s guidance during a critical growth phase involving innovation in electric vehicles and AI.

This deal shines a spotlight on how companies incentivize leaders to pursue aggressive growth and technological breakthroughs.

The next decade will reveal if Tesla can meet these extraordinary expectations and if Musk’s leadership delivers on this historic wager.

Tesla’s ambitious compensation plan underscores the high stakes involved in leading one of the most watched companies in the world toward transformational success.

Do you think Elon Musk will achieve Tesla’s $8.5 trillion target and earn the full pay package?

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