NEW YORK: Tesla unveiled on Friday (Sep 5) a proposed compensation package for Elon Musk that could top US$1 trillion if the controversial CEO delivers on his vision for stratospheric growth from new technologies.
The plan, which runs for 10 years and must be approved by shareholders, provides Musk with up to 12 per cent of current total shares, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
To reach the full award, Tesla must reach a market capitalisation of “at least US$8.5 trillion by 2035”, according to the filing.
Tesla’s current market capitalisation is just over US$1 trillion, down somewhat from its peak following recent weak earnings. Analysts have attributed some of the sales woes to Musk’s embrace of far-right politicians, which has sparked criticism.
But Musk has described Tesla’s potential growth as nearly boundless, saying in July that if the company delivers on its vision for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, “Tesla will be the most valuable company in the world by far”.
Earlier this month, Tesla announced an “interim” compensation award worth about US$29 billion for Musk, asserting the need to retain the controversial CEO at a moment of fierce competition for top talent.
The developments come as Tesla challenges a Delaware court ruling that struck down a 2018 package for Musk of about US$55.8 billion.
Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm and board member Kathleen Wilson-Thompson described the new package as a “super ambitious incentive package for a pioneering, ambitious and unique CEO” in a letter to shareholders in the filing.
“We believe that Elon’s singular vision is vital to navigating this critical inflection point,” they said in the letter, which also set conditions of having one million robotaxis in commercial operation and one million AI bots.
“If Elon achieves all the performance milestones under this principle-based 2025 CEO Performance Award, his leadership will propel Tesla to become the most valuable company in history.”
The proposed compensation package was included in Tesla’s proxy statement for shareholders ahead of an annual meeting on Nov 6. The meeting will be held virtually and in person for a “limited number of shareholders” at Tesla’s factory in Austin, Texas, the filing said.
Musk is viewed within the business world as a unique talent after his success with building Tesla and SpaceX into major global companies.
But his stewardship at Tesla has come under scrutiny in the last year as car sales and profits have tumbled.
This trend has been partly due to Musk’s support for far-right political causes, but it is also related to a sluggish rollout of new auto models after the polarising Cybertruck sold poorly.
After joining the administration of US President Donald Trump in the first months of 2025, Musk has exited Washington following friction with the Republican leader.
Musk and Trump drew headlines in the spring due to public sniping, but relations between the men have quieted since then.
