Tesla investors greenlit an unprecedented compensation plan that could net Elon Musk up to $1 trillion in stock, sparking debate over executive pay and corporate power.

Tesla shareholders voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a pay package for Elon Musk that could be worth as much as one trillion dollars if the company hits ambitious targets over the next decade. The measure passed with 75% support, making it one of the most extraordinary executive compensation deals ever proposed.

Under the plan, Musk would receive no salary but could unlock Tesla stock worth roughly a trillion dollars if the company raises its market capitalization from about $1.5 trillion today to above $8.5 trillion, among other performance metrics. For context, that would make Tesla worth nearly twice as much as Nvidia, currently the world’s most valuable company.

The sheer scale of the package defies easy comprehension. Using conservative valuations, the board estimates the deal at around $88 billion, which alone would equal roughly what all other S&P 500 CEOs earned combined last year. The size of this pay package and the fame of the CEO involved could overshadow other big deals this week, such as Kimberly-Clark’s acquisition of Kenvue or Denny’s going private.

If Musk unlocks the full package, he would own about 28.8% of Tesla’s voting shares, a concentration of power that board chair Robyn Denholm acknowledged to CNBC is “less about compensation and more about the voting influence.” Musk himself has framed the real prize as control, particularly over Tesla’s humanoid robot project, which he envisions as a “robot army” that he wants to maintain strong influence over.

The community response beyond shareholders has been skeptical. Commenters have criticized the package as excessive wealth concentration and questioned whether Tesla’s financial performance justifies such an extraordinary payout. Critics point out that Musk could take home hundreds of billions even if he only hits relatively modest targets, and some observers have characterized the deal as “pay for unchecked power.” The broader concern reflects growing unease about wealth inequality and the ability of corporations to reward executives at scales that dwarf typical compensation.

Champions of the package point out that extraordinary results require extraordinary incentives to keep Musk focused on the company. The package is entirely performance-based and divided into twelve tranches, with Musk unable to immediately sell the stock he receives.

Supporters emphasize that shareholders only benefit if Tesla’s value grows dramatically. However, the previous pay package of $55.8 billion remains tied up in court after a judge questioned whether the board was too close to Musk in designing it, raising questions about governance and oversight. And with headwinds like a loss of tax credits for electric vehicle sales, it could be a challenging year ahead for companies that produce electric cars.

The approval reflects shareholder confidence in Musk’s vision, even as Tesla’s profits have declined throughout 2025, and observers note his attention has been divided by politics and other ventures. Whether this unprecedented incentive will refocus his efforts on Tesla or simply represent a historic transfer of wealth remains one of the most consequential questions facing the company and its investors.

For a video of the Tesla shareholder results, visit Yahoo Finance.