Elon Musk’s Fiery Plea for $1 Trillion Dominates Tesla Call

A 75-minute Tesla earnings call, largely focused on AI and robotaxis, ended with a dramatic, personal appeal from CEO Elon Musk. Interrupting his CFO, Musk pleaded with investors to ratify his $1 trillion compensation package.
The world’s richest person is facing opposition to the plan from shareholder advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis. Musk used his platform to blast these firms, claiming they “have no freaking clue” and are making “asinine recommendations.”
Musk framed his need for the package around his future projects, including the “robot army” (Tesla’s Optimus robots). “I just don’t feel comfortable building a robot army here and then being ousted,” he explained, tying the pay to voting control.
He also offered a rare glimpse into his thoughts on accountability, stating he wants “a strong influence” but “not not so much that I can’t be fired if I go insane.” This “classic Musk” moment electrified the otherwise “ho-hum” call.
The final decision will be made by shareholders at Tesla’s annual meeting on Nov. 6 in Austin. CFO Vaibhav Taneja concluded the call by urging investors to support the plan, arguing it was designed by the board to reward Musk only after shareholders see “substantial returns.”