Elon Musk Urges Tesla Investors to Back $1 Trillion Pay Package, Slams Advisory Firms

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, made a surprise appearance during the company's earnings call. He urged investors to approve his proposed $1 trillion pay package. This intervention came as the call, which mainly focused on Tesla's AI and self-driving projects, was nearing its end. Musk expressed his desire for enough voting control to maintain influence but not so much that he couldn't be removed if necessary.

Shareholders are set to vote on Musk's massive compensation plan on November 6. The proposal has faced opposition from shareholder advisory firms like Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis. These firms have recommended rejecting the payout, citing concerns about its size and potential impact on other shareholders' ownership.

Musk's Emphasis on Voting Control

Musk has consistently stated that having sufficient voting control is more important to him than financial compensation from Tesla. "I just don't feel comfortable building a robot army here, and then being ousted because of some asinine recommendations from ISS and Glass Lewis, who have no freaking clue," he said during the call.

Despite these concerns, Tesla's Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja praised the special board committee for their work in structuring the award. He emphasized that nothing would be passed until shareholders see substantial returns, urging them twice more to support the plan.

Tesla's Financial Performance

Tesla's recent earnings report revealed disappointing profit margins despite record vehicle deliveries. Operating income dropped by 40% in the third quarter due to ongoing challenges in the electric vehicle sector and changing US policies. Rising costs also impacted results, with tariffs costing over $400 million last quarter.

The company's operating expenses increased by 50% to $3.4 billion during this period. Following these results, Tesla shares fell by as much as 5.7% shortly after regular trading began on Thursday. However, the stock is still up nearly 9% for the year, lagging behind the S&P 500 Index's 14% gain.

Advisory Firms' Concerns

Proxy advisers ISS and Glass Lewis have voiced significant concerns about Musk's unprecedented payout plan. ISS highlighted "unmitigated concerns" regarding the award's magnitude and design, while Glass Lewis criticized its potential dilution of other shareholders' ownership stakes.

Musk remains at the top of Bloomberg Billionaires Index with an estimated net worth of around $455 billion. His focus on maintaining voting control aligns with his long-term vision for Tesla rather than immediate monetary gains.

The earnings call underscored both financial challenges and strategic priorities for Tesla moving forward. As shareholders prepare to vote on Musk's compensation package, they must weigh these factors carefully in their decision-making process.