Tesla(US:TSLA) Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-05-21 11:45Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk has indicated a significant reduction in political spending, stating he feels he has done enough and currently sees no reason to contribute further [1][3]. Political Involvement - Musk's political contributions have been substantial, with nearly $250 million donated to the America PAC in 2024 [3]. - He initiated a campaign to incentivize voters in key swing states, offering $1 million daily to randomly selected petition signers and $100 to each signer in Pennsylvania [3]. - Despite his financial backing, Musk's support for conservative candidates has not always yielded success, as seen in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election where his favored candidate lost by 10 percentage points [3]. Financial Impact - Since Trump's presidency began, Musk's net worth has decreased from $449 billion to $376 billion, a drop of 16%, with a peak decline of 35% attributed to Trump's tariff policies [4]. - Investor dissatisfaction with Tesla's performance and Musk's political involvement has led to calls for him to refocus on the company [4]. Leadership and Control - Musk has reaffirmed his commitment to lead Tesla for at least five more years, unless unforeseen circumstances arise [5]. - He currently holds approximately 13% of Tesla's shares and is involved in a performance-based compensation plan that could unlock an additional 12% of options if certain targets are met [5][6]. - A Delaware court has ruled the stock incentive plan invalid, but Musk is appealing this decision [6]. Shareholder Concerns - Musk has expressed the importance of maintaining sufficient voting control to avoid being ousted by activist investors, emphasizing that his interest in Tesla's future is tied to having adequate control rather than financial compensation [7]. - Following Musk's recent comments, Tesla's stock experienced a brief increase of 3.3% before settling at a 1% gain, with the stock down 15% year-to-date [7].