Slate Money What Do You Pay the Man Who Has Everything?
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Sep 6, 2025 Elon Musk is offered a jaw-dropping $1 trillion package by Tesla, sparking a debate about executive compensation and corporate valuations. A recent court ruling recognizes Google as a monopoly but stops short of breaking it up, raising questions about antitrust logic. Meanwhile, traders are jumping on potential tariff refunds as the Supreme Court considers Trump’s tariffs, leading to a deep dive into the world of litigation finance. From tech monopolies to the dynamics of wealth, the conversation covers a lot of ground!
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Why Tesla Offered A Trillion-Dollar Package
- Tesla's proposed $1 trillion stock award mainly ties Musk's payoff to extreme market-cap and EBITDA goals, not current cash compensation.
- Board seeks to lock Musk into long-term control and motivation despite the award's vast, unlikely size.
Structure Protects Shareholders Unless Goals Hit
- The package is structured so Musk only earns awards after massive company performance improvements and long service periods.
- That structure protects shareholders unless Tesla truly soars, aligning pay with extreme future outcomes.
Musk's Motivation Is Ambition, Not Need
- Musk uniquely seeks enormous formal pay despite already being richest man, driven by audacious goals and desire for control.
- Becoming vastly richer serves Musk's projects (e.g., space) and personal bragging rights more than ordinary compensation needs.