Elon Musk Secures $1 Trillion Payday as Tesla Faces Layoffs and Investor Backlash

Elon Musk has officially secured one of the largest pay packages ever seen in corporate history — a staggering $1 trillion deal — even as Tesla employees and investors express concern over the company’s direction.

At a high-energy launch event in Austin, Texas, Musk appeared on stage surrounded by humanoid robots and bold lighting effects, announcing that Tesla was “starting a brand-new era.” The announcement followed a shareholder vote in which more than 75% supported the record-breaking compensation plan.

If the plan’s targets are achieved — including the sale of one million humanoid robots — Musk could end up controlling nearly a quarter of Tesla’s total value. This comes at a time when Tesla’s global sales have dropped by about 13%, and reports of staff layoffs continue to emerge.

Musk had previously hinted that he might leave Tesla if the pay proposal wasn’t approved, a move that pressured investors into backing the deal. His supporters celebrated the decision, while critics argued it represented corporate greed on an unprecedented scale.

Regulators and financial analysts have called the package “excessive” and “hard to justify.” Major investors such as CalPERS, the New York City pension funds, and Norges Bank opposed the decision but were ultimately outvoted.

This isn’t the first time Musk’s pay has sparked controversy. His earlier 2018 compensation plan was struck down by a Delaware court, which found that Tesla’s board lacked independence and transparency in approving it.

Meanwhile, workers at Tesla factories have raised concerns about frozen wages, long shifts, and intense work culture — even as their boss’s net worth soars beyond the GDP of several nations.

While Musk celebrates his new “chapter” in Tesla’s story, critics say this moment marks something different — a modern-day example of corporate power concentrated in one man’s hands.

As Musk continues developing his ambitious robotics program, he has promised to keep control of the technology “to prevent misuse.” But for many, the question remains: Who’s really benefiting from Tesla’s future — the workers, or the trillion-dollar king himself?

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