When someone already has billions, what can possibly keep them motivated? For Tesla’s board of directors, the answer was a record-breaking $1 trillion pay package designed to ensure Elon Musk’s attention stays firmly on Tesla.
On Friday, the company revealed a shareholder proposal that could grant Musk up to 423.7 million additional Tesla shares over the next decade. At today’s value, that’s about $148.7 billion — but if Tesla hits its ambitious growth milestones, those shares could soar to nearly $1 trillion.
To achieve this, Tesla must reach an $8.5 trillion market cap, roughly eight times its current valuation and more than double the size of any company in history.
Why Tesla Needs Musk Anchored
Tesla’s board admitted the stakes: without Musk, Tesla risks losing its identity. Musk hinted he might devote more energy to his other ventures — including SpaceX, Starlink, xAI, and X (formerly Twitter) — unless Tesla guaranteed him greater control.