Elon Musk blackmailed the Tesla board, saying he would leave his position as CEO of the company if shareholders do not approve the payment of his $1 trillion bonus.
The $1 trillion payment was suggested by Tesla as compensation for Musk if he met a series of goals set for the company’s growth.
At the same time, Tesla‘s lawyers are fighting in the Delaware Supreme Court to overturn a decision that prevented the company from making a billion-dollar payment to the entrepreneur.
Now, Musk is once again using his influence to ensure that his new bonus is approved by shareholders in a vote scheduled for November 6.
On his X (formerly Twitter) profile, Romain Hedouinc, a former Tesla employee, responded to a post from the company criticizing Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), a proxy advisory firm that recommends to shareholders how to vote on proposals.
According to Reuters, ISS and other similar firms have recommended that shareholders vote against Tesla‘s proposals in the November 6 vote, a stance that was criticized by Tesla in the post on X.
According to ISS, although the board’s goal was to keep Musk due to his “track record and vision,” the compensation package “ensures extraordinarily high compensation opportunities for the next ten years” and “reduces the board’s ability to significantly adjust future compensation levels.”
In response to Romain’s post, Musk replied: “Tesla is worth more than all other automakers combined. Which of those CEOs would you like to run Tesla? It won’t be me,” the entrepreneur quipped.
Musk also stated that, for him, it’s not just about payment. Instead, it’s about voting control so that he can guide Tesla towards his vision of AI and robotaxis.
Tesla is worth more than all other automotive companies combined. Which of those CEOs would you like to run Tesla?
It won’t be me.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2025
Photo: Creative Commons / X @elonmusk. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
