Could Tesla Make Musk the First Trillionaire?

Tesla shareholders are set to vote on a compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that could make him the world’s first trillionaire, or risk him leaving the company, CNN reports.

The proposal, to be considered at Tesla’s annual meeting Thursday, would grant Musk up to 423.7 million additional shares over the next decade. These shares could be worth about $1 trillion if Tesla reaches an $8.5 trillion market capitalization and meets a series of operational and financial targets, according to Tesla filings.

According to CNN, the stakes are unusually high this year. The company warned in September that Musk “raised the possibility that he may pursue other interests” if shareholders reject the package. 

Historically, Tesla investors have broadly approved Musk’s pay plans.

Achieving the $8.5 trillion valuation would require a 466% increase from Tesla’s current stock price—around 70% higher than Nvidia’s recent $5 trillion market cap record. Tesla has faced a challenging 2025, with sales and profits declining in the first half of the year, compounded by reduced U.S. government support for electric vehicle sales.

Despite these challenges, Musk and Tesla executives emphasize a strategic pivot toward self-driving cars, “robotaxis,” and humanoid robots, projects that remain under development and are not yet for sale. Even if shareholders approve the package, Musk may only realize the full grant if Tesla can deliver on these ambitious targets.