Saad Ullah
Tesla's board just approved a $96 million stock award for CEO Elon Musk while his original 2018 compensation package remains tied up in Delaware courts. The move aims to keep Musk focused on Tesla's AI and robotics push during this legal uncertainty.
Stock Price Barely Budges
TSLA shares stayed mostly flat after the news. The award vests over two years and won't stack with the 2018 package if that gets reinstated—showing Tesla's trying to be careful about not double-paying.
It's About More Than Money
This isn't just compensation—it's talent retention. With fierce competition in AI and self-driving tech, Tesla's board clearly sees Musk as irreplaceable. One analyst called it "fair recognition" that highlights how legal delays are blocking "just compensation."
What It Means for Investors
The real questions now: Will Delaware reinstate the original package? And can Tesla maintain its innovation edge with Musk at the helm?
For shareholders, this interim award signals the board believes Tesla's future depends heavily on keeping its CEO engaged—especially as the company pivots harder into AI and robotics beyond just electric vehicles.
Saad Ullah
