AUSTIN, Texas (Diya TV) — Tesla shareholders have approved a massive $1 trillion pay package for CEO Elon Musk, potentially making him the world’s first trillionaire. The decision came during Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, where more than 75% of votes supported the plan. The pay package, structured entirely in stock options, could grant Musk up to 423.7 million additional Tesla shares over the next decade.
These shares could be worth around $1 trillion if the company achieves an $8.5 trillion market capitalization — a 466% jump from today’s value. The plan excludes the 15% of Tesla stock that Musk already owns. Musk, who takes no salary, thanked shareholders after the vote. “I super appreciate it,” he told the cheering crowd.
His approval marks the largest executive compensation deal in history, potentially earning him the equivalent of $275 million a day over 10 years. To unlock the full payout, Tesla must hit a series of operational and financial targets. The compensation will be distributed in 12 equal blocks as the company meets those milestones. Tesla shares would need to soar past the world’s current market leader, Nvidia, which recently reached a record $5 trillion valuation.
Reaching those goals won’t be easy. Tesla’s sales and profits have dropped sharply in 2025, and the company faces billions in potential losses after U.S. government incentives for electric vehicles were reduced. Musk is already the world’s richest person, with an estimated net worth of $473 billion, according to Bloomberg. Most of his wealth comes from Tesla, SpaceX, and his artificial intelligence firm, xAI.
Before the vote, Tesla’s board warned that rejecting the package might push Musk to step away from his CEO role. The board said Musk wanted greater control to secure Tesla’s long-term vision. “There needs to be enough voting control to give me a strong influence – but not so much that I can’t be fired if I go insane,” Musk told investors earlier.
Despite recent challenges, Musk remains confident about Tesla’s future. He told shareholders that Tesla’s next growth phase will come from self-driving technology and robotics rather than traditional electric cars. He spoke more about the company’s humanoid robots than its vehicles during the meeting. Musk predicted that robots will soon become Tesla’s biggest product line — larger than the car business or even the smartphone industry.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest product of all time by far,” Musk said. “Every human on Earth is going to want their own personal R2-D2 or C-3PO.”
According to Musk, Tesla’s robots could perform complex tasks, including surgery, and might even help eliminate global poverty. He estimated the production cost of each robot at around $20,000, roughly the price of a new car. Still, Tesla’s robot and “robotaxi” projects remain under development and have yet to generate revenue. The company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature — which Musk heavily promoted — still requires human drivers to stay alert and take control when needed.
For Musk to realize the $1 trillion payout, Tesla must overcome its current slowdown, deliver on its ambitious technology promises, and meet a series of performance goals. Analysts say the vote shows investors still have faith in Musk’s vision despite recent struggles. His bold ideas and leadership have helped Tesla dominate the electric vehicle market and drive major innovation in AI and automation.
