Slate Daily Feed What Next: TBD | Why Tesla Is Paying Elon a Trillion Bucks
Nov 9, 2025
Faiz Siddiqui, a technology reporter at The Washington Post and author of 'Hubris Maximus,' dives into Tesla's shocking approval of a nearly $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk. He discusses the implications of this deal on Musk's commitment amid his controversial public feuds with government officials. Faiz also reveals how Musk's political involvement has split Tesla's customer base and potentially hurt the company's financial health. Plus, the challenges faced by SpaceX with NASA contracts and Musk's impulsive behavior that raises investor concerns.
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Child Visits Flight Deck Sparked By Kind Crew
- Faiz Siddiqui recounts a United Airlines flight attendant letting Bronx visit the cockpit, creating a lasting memory.
- He compares the moment to his own aviation upbringing, showing how small interactions shape futures.
Trillion-Dollar Pay Package To Lock In Musk
- The Tesla board approved a $1 trillion pay package to lock Elon Musk into the company for the next decade.
- The package aims to retain Musk and align Tesla's long-term roadmap with his ambitions in AI and robotics.
Political Entanglements Hurt Tesla Demand
- Musk's involvement in politics and the Trump administration damaged Tesla's demand and investor confidence.
- That backlash pushed Tesla into a weaker growth phase and forced reconsideration of his external engagements.
