What do you give a man who has everything? $1 trillion of course. The news broke Friday that despite a seemingly waning interest in making cars and his alienation of many of Tesla’s customers, Elon Musk was offered a record-busting payday by the carmaker’s board. The catch? The South Africa native and richest person in the world (even before the $1 trillion) has to help the embattled automaker meet certain goals when it comes to company value and product development. 

In this episode of Elon, Inc., host David Papadopoulos gathers Bloomberg Businessweek’s Max Chafkin and Bloomberg News Elon Musk reporter Dana Hull to discuss the new pay package, its stipulations (such as growing Tesla’s market value to $8.5 trillion and delivering 1 million robots in ten years) and how likely it is that investors will approve the payout. 

Speaking of the Nov. 6 shareholder meeting, the crew is also joined by Bloomberg tech reporter Kurt Wagner to discus another investor matter: whether Tesla should invest in Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI (the conflict of interest practically writes itself). Also of note is the idea that a company like Tesla that’s increasingly turning to AI would invest in another AI company. Wagner tries his hardest to explain the situation and adds a substantial caveat: according to the proxy, the shareholder vote won’t be binding. 

What do you give a man who has everything? $1 trillion of course. The <a href="bbg://news/stories/T24G69GOYMTC" data-web-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-05/tsla-tesla-offers-unprecedented-1-trillion-pay-package-to-elon-musk?srnd=undefined" data-cke-saved-href="bbg://news/stories/T24G69GOYMTC">news broke Friday</a> that despite&nbsp;a&nbsp;seemingly waning&nbsp;interest in making cars and his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-brand-loyalty-collapsed-after-musk-backed-trump-data-shows-2025-08-04/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-brand-loyalty-collapsed-after-musk-backed-trump-data-shows-2025-08-04/">alienation</a>&nbsp;of many of Tesla&rsquo;s customers,&nbsp;Elon Musk was offered a record-busting payday by the carmaker&rsquo;s&nbsp;board. The catch? The South Africa native and richest person in the world (even before the $1 trillion) has to help the embattled automaker meet certain goals when it comes to company value and product development.&nbsp; In this episode of Elon, Inc.,&nbsp;host David Papadopoulos gathers Bloomberg&nbsp;Businessweek&rsquo;s Max Chafkin and Bloomberg News Elon Musk reporter Dana Hull to discuss the new pay package, its stipulations (such as growing Tesla&rsquo;s market value to $8.5 trillion and delivering 1 million robots in ten years) and how likely it is that investors will approve the payout.&nbsp; Speaking of the Nov. 6 shareholder meeting, the crew is also joined by Bloomberg tech reporter&nbsp;Kurt Wagner to discus another investor matter: whether Tesla should invest in Musk&rsquo;s artificial intelligence startup xAI (the conflict of interest practically writes itself). Also of note is the idea that a company like Tesla that&rsquo;s increasingly <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tesla/769009/tesla-master-plan-4-ai-robotics-abundance" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.theverge.com/tesla/769009/tesla-master-plan-4-ai-robotics-abundance">turning to AI</a>&nbsp;would invest in another AI company. Wagner tries his hardest to explain the situation and adds a substantial caveat: according to the proxy, the shareholder vote won&rsquo;t be&nbsp;binding.&nbsp;

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 

Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 

Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon Musk’s sprawling business empire has granted the billionaire a degree of power and global influence that transcends the industries he’s reshaped. He is the leader of no fewer than six hugely influential companies, spanning electric vehicles to wartime communications, and their innovations could shape the fates of nations. 
Musk is polarizing, confounding and inescapable. And he is the biggest business story of our time. 
Each week, listen in as host David Papadopoulos convenes a panel of Bloomberg Businessweek journalists who are tracking Musk’s companies and the surprising ways they intersect. They break down the business mogul's latest moves and analyze what they could mean for us all.

Elon, Inc.

Will Elon Get Paid $1,000,000,000,000?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/48a0947b-d152-447b-88e0-b3530154ff49/transcript

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