Tesla shareholders approve Elon Musk's trillion-dollar pay package
Tesla shareholders have overwhelmingly approved an extraordinary compensation plan for Elon Musk that could grant him stock valued at around one trillion dollars. The decision passed with 75% of the vote at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting, according to preliminary results reported on November 6, 2025.
Conditions and performance targets
The approved package is entirely performance-based: Musk will not receive a salary but can unlock the massive stock rewards if Tesla achieves specific goals over the next decade. One major condition requires the company’s market capitalization to rise from about $1.5 trillion today to over $8.5 trillion.
Industry comparison
For context, Nvidia — the world’s most valuable firm driven by the AI surge — currently has a market capitalization of $4.83 trillion. Its CEO earns roughly $50 million annually and holds 3.5% of the company’s shares.
Background on Musk’s wealth
Elon Musk’s personal fortune is already immense, estimated at about $460 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Much of this stems from Tesla’s stock, now trading near $465 per share — more than 400 times its 2010 IPO value.
Previous legal dispute
A prior compensation plan valued at $55.8 billion remains under legal scrutiny following a court’s finding that Tesla’s board may have been excessively aligned with Musk’s interests when formulating the deal.
“Tesla shareholders have approved a pay package for Elon Musk that could allow him to earn an unprecedented one trillion dollars' worth of stock.”
Author’s summary: Tesla investors endorsed a bold trillion-dollar performance plan for Elon Musk, tying his compensation to the company’s future growth and market success.