Musk Receives Historic Vote of Confidence: Tesla Shareholders Approve $1 Trillion Pay Package

Tesla shareholders delivered a resounding vote of confidence in Elon Musk, approving a compensation plan worth up to $1 trillion — the largest executive pay package in corporate history.

The vote took place during the company’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas, where 75% of shareholders voted in favor, recognizing Musk’s irreplaceable role in establishing Tesla as a global leader in innovation, clean energy, and autonomous technology.

The new compensation plan, proposed in September, grants Musk up to 12% of Tesla’s stock, contingent upon achieving performance and market capitalization milestones — including an ambitious $8.5 trillion valuation goal over the next decade. Tesla is currently valued at around $1.45 trillion, and Musk holds about 13% of outstanding shares.

During the meeting, Musk expressed heartfelt gratitude to shareholders and the board:

“I want to give a sincere thank-you to everyone who supported this decision. The commitment of our shareholders and the board’s immense support mean a lot. Tesla meetings are never boring — they’re celebrations of innovation.”

Board Chair Robyn Denholm had previously warned that Tesla risked losing Musk if the plan was not approved, emphasizing that his leadership has been key to the company’s extraordinary shareholder returns in recent years.

“Elon is the driving force behind Tesla. If we don’t create an environment that motivates him to keep transforming the world, we risk losing his time, talent, and vision,” Denholm stated.

Despite opposition from some institutional investors, such as Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the shareholder base overwhelmingly reaffirmed its trust in Musk. Analysts note that his leadership ensures stability and continues to propel Tesla toward undisputed dominance in electric vehicles, AI, and autonomous solutions.

Musk, who half-jokingly remarked that he wants “enough influence to lead, but not so much that I can’t be fired if I go insane,” reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Tesla at the forefront of innovation.

Despite market fluctuations, Tesla shares are up more than 17% in 2025, reflecting investor optimism surrounding the company’s next chapter under Musk’s visionary leadership.