Elon Musk’s Pay Battle: CEO Blasts ‘Clueless’ Firms on Call

The battle over Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package intensified as the CEO hijacked a Tesla earnings call to blast the “clueless” firms advising against it. Musk interrupted his CFO at the end of a 75-minute call to plead his case.
The world’s richest person is facing a crucial vote on Nov. 6 in Austin, where shareholders will decide the fate of his compensation. The call, previously focused on AI and Optimus robots, became a platform for Musk’s “fiery” defense.
Musk took direct aim at proxy advisory services ISS and Glass Lewis. He claimed they “have no freaking clue” and are making “asinine recommendations” that are not in shareholders’ interests.
He linked the package to his long-term vision, stating, “I just don’t feel comfortable building a robot army here and then being ousted.” He argued for “strong influence” but “not so much that I can’t be fired if I go insane.”
Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja had the final word, urging investors to vote in favor. Taneja defended the board committee’s plan, stressing that it ties Musk’s benefits directly to “substantial returns” for shareholders.