Elon Musk could become history’s first trillionaire: Tesla proposes unprecedented bonus for Musk

Elon Musk is already the richest man in the world. But if Tesla’s latest proposal goes through, his fortune could reach a milestone no one has ever touched before: one trillion dollars.

According to a new plan shared with shareholders, Tesla wants to reward Musk with an unprecedented performance bonus—worth up to $1 trillion—if he meets a series of ambitious goals. These include launching robotaxi fleets, expanding artificial intelligence products, and pushing Tesla’s market value to an astronomical $8.5 trillion.

The company says the bonus plan, dubbed the “2025 CEO Performance Award,” will run for the next decade. The goal: keep Musk motivated and ensure Tesla doesn’t just grow, but becomes the most valuable company in history.

Why Tesla says it needs Musk

In a letter to investors, Tesla highlighted Musk’s “singular vision” and argued that his leadership is essential during what it called a “critical inflection point.”

“We also recognize the formidable nature of this undertaking,” the letter reads, stressing the importance of retaining a leader who is not only capable but eager to take on the challenge.

The conditions behind the trillion-dollar bonus

Tesla made it clear: Musk won’t get the payout unless he delivers extraordinary returns for shareholders and remains at the helm of Tesla for many years to come.

The conditions are steep. Musk must:

As Tesla itself put it:

“In 2018, Elon had to grow Tesla by billions; in 2025, he has to grow Tesla by trillions.”

A decade-long test of leadership

The performance award isn’t just about money—it’s also designed to keep Musk locked into Tesla’s future. The structure requires him to stay with the company for at least seven and a half years, and potentially a full decade, to unlock the entire bonus.

Tesla also says the plan includes safeguards against extreme stock price volatility and encourages Musk to build a long-term succession framework for the company’s next CEO.

Where Musk stands today

Musk’s fortune already sits at $436.8 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker. That makes him the wealthiest person alive.

But if Tesla’s bold bet pays off, Musk could go down in history as the first trillionaire—a title that has never been achieved in human history.

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