Tesla’s board has approved a new interim compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk, granting him 96 million shares currently valued at close to $29 billion. The company described this as a “first step” and a “good
faith” payment, a partial gesture to recognise Musk’s leadership since 2018, a period during which he received no formal compensation from Tesla.
According to Tesla’s filing, the board credited the billionaire businessman with “transformative and unprecedented” growth, pointing to a $735 billion rise in the company’s market value over the last six years.
The term “good faith” signals that this is not a final payout, but a provisional move while a larger legal battle plays out. It’s also meant to reaffirm the company’s trust in Musk at a time when Tesla is trying to reinvent itself — shifting focus from electric cars to robotaxis and humanoid robots.
This new award comes just months after a US court in Delaware cancelled Musk’s $56 billion compensation package from 2018, calling it unfair to shareholders and poorly approved by Tesla’s board. Tesla is now appealing that ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court.
What Are The Terms Of The Award?
Musk can claim the shares only if he continues in a top executive role at Tesla until 2027. Even then, he will have to buy the shares at $23.34 each, the same exercise price as in the cancelled 2018 plan, rather than receiving them for free. Once the shares vest, Musk must hold on to them for five years, unless he needs to sell some to pay taxes or cover the purchase cost.
In effect, this is not a cash payout but a stock option: a deal that allows Musk to buy Tesla shares at a fixed price in the future, if he meets certain conditions.
Importantly, if the Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Musk’s 2018 pay package, the new shares will be cancelled or adjusted, ensuring Musk does not receive the benefit of both — a situation Tesla refers to as a “double dip”.
Tesla has also said it won’t record this as a compensation expense for now, because the performance conditions, mainly Musk’s continued role and the legal uncertainty, make it unlikely to be paid out in the immediate term. This may change depending on how the court rules and whether Musk stays on.
What Happened To Musk’s 2018 Pay Plan?
In January, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick upheld her ruling that voided Musk’s $56 billion pay deal from 2018, saying Tesla’s board lacked independence, with several members having close ties to Musk, and withheld key information from shareholders. The lawsuit, brought by a shareholder, accused the board of failing to protect investor interests.
Musk is now appealing the decision. He has also taken aim at the state’s corporate governance system, calling it outdated and biased, and has since moved Tesla’s legal incorporation from Delaware to Texas.
What Is Tesla Trying To Achieve With This Award?
Tesla’s leadership sees this grant as a way to keep Musk focused on the company at a time when his attention is split across ventures like SpaceX, xAI, and his growing involvement in US politics.
The special committee behind the new award, comprising chair Robyn Denholm and director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, noted Musk’s other interests but said the company was confident this offer would tie him to Tesla during a crucial period.
There’s another reason: voting power. Musk has previously said he would not continue building Tesla’s AI and robotics divisions unless he had at least 25 per cent voting control. This award would increase his stake from about 12.7 per cent to more than 15 per cent.
What Is The Broader Shift At Tesla?
Tesla is undergoing a major transformation. Once focused on producing affordable electric vehicles, it is now rebranding itself as an AI and robotics company.
The company is placing big bets on future revenue from autonomous driving software, robotaxis, and humanoid machines. But this new direction has come at a time of growing financial strain.
Tesla’s last earnings report showed automotive revenue down by 16 per cent, and profits dropped sharply from $1.39 billion to $409 million. Musk has warned of “a few rough quarters” ahead.
Why Are Tesla’s Sales And Brand Loyalty Falling?
Tesla shares have fallen around 25 per cent this year, reflecting a mix of financial strain, product delays, political backlash, and intensifying competition.
On the product front, Tesla’s much-hyped Cybertruck—its first new model since 2020—has underperformed, falling short of Musk’s earlier prediction of hundreds of thousands of annual sales. Meanwhile, the company’s core vehicle lineup is ageing, with no major refreshes announced even as global automakers like Hyundai, BMW, and BYD push out sleeker, more affordable EVs.
At the same time, the Trump administration’s rollback of EV subsidies has hurt Tesla’s bottom line, stripping away a significant source of revenue and tax credits that once gave the company an edge.
But beyond economics, Musk’s political visibility has triggered reputational challenges. His public support for Donald Trump, leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the launch of his own political party have drawn protests at Tesla dealerships and pushed away sections of its early customer base. Although Musk and Trump have since had a public falling out, the brand damage appears to have lingered.
According to S&P Global Mobility, Tesla’s brand loyalty peaked in June 2024 at 73 per cent but began dropping sharply after Musk’s Trump endorsement. By March 2025, loyalty had fallen to 49.9 per cent, dipping below the industry average, a trend analysts attribute to a widening mismatch between Musk’s personal politics and Tesla’s early customer base.
Tesla is now dealing with a two-front challenge: softening demand for its vehicles, and eroding consumer trust in its brand. The $29 billion stock award is being seen as a high-stakes attempt to stabilise both, starting with Musk himself.
How Did Investors React To The Award?
Tesla shares rose more than 2 per cent in early/pre-market trading after the announcement of Musk’s new stock award. While some investors have questioned the need for another billion-dollar payout, many appear to accept that keeping Musk is key to Tesla’s future.
Over the past decade, Tesla’s share price has surged nearly 2,000 per cent, far outpacing the S&P 500’s 200 per cent gain. Investors who have stayed with the company through Musk’s high-risk decisions have generally been rewarded, at least until recent quarters.
What Happens Next?
Tesla will hold its next annual shareholder meeting on November 6, where it is expected to propose a long-term compensation plan for Musk.
Until then, this $29 billion stock grant is not just a reward; it’s a statement. The company is betting that Musk is still the best person to lead Tesla through a period of uncertainty and reinvention, even as courts weigh in on his past pay and customers weigh other options.
