What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future Why Tesla Is Paying Elon a Trillion Bucks
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Nov 9, 2025 Faiz Siddiqui, a technology reporter at The Washington Post and author of Hubris Maximus, dives into Elon Musk's controversial $1 trillion pay package approved by Tesla shareholders. They explore Musk's public spats with government officials and discuss how his resilient business model can weather political backlash. Siddiqui reveals the impact of regulatory hurdles and government contracts on Tesla and SpaceX, highlighting Musk's strategic shift towards AI and robotics amid slowing growth.
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Musk's Public Feud With Sean Duffy
- After Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized SpaceX, Elon Musk responded with juvenile insults and a pinned meme.
- His public meltdown strained his relationship with an administration he had been close to.
Trillion-Dollar Pay To Keep Musk
- The Tesla board approved a $1 trillion pay package to lock Elon Musk into the company for the next decade.
- The package is unprecedented and dwarfs his previous $56 billion award, signaling extraordinary investor tolerance.
Politics Damaged Tesla's Momentum
- Musk's political entanglements hurt Tesla's demand and financial performance while he split his attention across ventures.
- The empire teetered but not enough to significantly undercut Musk's wealth or power, prompting his intervention.
