Musk the trillionaire? Debate over his Tesla pay package rages

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk's political involvement has negatively impacted Tesla's car sales, yet the company's stock has increased significantly, leading Musk to seek a substantial pay package that could make him the first trillionaire in history [1]. Group 1: Shareholder Meeting and Voting - Shareholders will vote on Musk's pay package at Tesla's annual meeting in Austin, Texas, with the outcome potentially granting him a significant amount of stock [1]. - The vote has generated intense debate, with some pension funds opposing the package due to concerns over the board's loyalty to Musk and the perceived recklessness of his behavior [2]. - Musk has the ability to vote his own shares, which constitute 15% of the company, thereby improving his chances of securing the pay package [4]. Group 2: Support and Criticism - Supporters argue that Musk is essential for Tesla's future, envisioning a world dominated by self-driving Tesla cars and humanoid robots, and claim that the pay package is necessary to keep him focused [3]. - Critics, including some pension funds, have labeled Musk's behavior as reckless and argue that the proposed compensation is excessive [2]. Group 3: Pay Package Details - The pay package was first introduced to shareholders in September, detailed in a 200-page filing, which also includes other proposals such as investments in Musk's other company, xAI [5]. - To receive the full compensation, Musk must meet several ambitious operational and financial targets, including delivering 20 million Teslas over the next 10 years and producing one million robots [6].