Tesla Chair Warns Elon Musk Could Leave if $1 Trillion Pay Package is Rejected
Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm has issued a stark warning to shareholders, stating that Elon Musk could depart the company if they do not approve a new, monumental compensation package valued at roughly $1 trillion, emphasizing that his leadership is “critical” to the automaker’s future.
The proposed plan, one of the most ambitious in corporate history, is structured around twelve stock option tranches, each tied to staggering performance milestones. These goals include achieving an $8.5 trillion market capitalization, delivering 20 million vehicles annually, securing 10 million Full Self-Driving subscriptions, deploying 1 million humanoid Optimus robots, and operating a fleet of 1 million robotaxis.
The announcement appears to have resonated positively with investors, as Tesla’s shares surged more than 5% on Monday following the news. The fate of the proposal now rests on a shareholder vote scheduled for November 6, 2025.
If approved, the package would significantly increase Musk’s ownership stake in Tesla from roughly 13% to about 25%, granting him greater control and aligning his fortunes even more closely with the company’s success. Musk, already the world’s richest person with a net worth of $492.2 billion according to Forbes, would see his wealth propelled to new heights.
In her appeal, Denholm framed the vote as a strategic necessity rather than a simple compensation issue. “This is less about compensation and more about ensuring Musk’s continued influence over Tesla’s AI-driven future,” she asserted, signaling that the company’s ambitious goals for autonomous driving and robotics are inextricably linked to its CEO’s vision and involvement.
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