Tesla board's $3 billion payday: Here's what's up

Business Dec 15, 2025

Tesla's board members have scored over $3 billion in stock awards since 2004—way more than what other big tech boards get.
Names like Kimbal Musk (Elon's brother), Ira Ehrenpreis, and Robyn Denholm are among those who've seen their compensation skyrocket, thanks to Tesla's soaring stock prices.

Why it matters: Lawsuits, changes, and some criticism

After a lawsuit called out their pay as excessive, Tesla stopped giving new stock awards to board members in 2021. But the earlier awards keep growing in value.
The way Tesla pays its board—with lots of stock options and little risk—has raised eyebrows among governance experts, who worry it could make the board less independent from Elon Musk.