Is Vaibhav Taneja treasurer of Musk's America Party—Here's the truth
What's the story
After Elon Musk announced the formation of the 'America Party' on X, a social media post began circulating, claiming that the party had been officially registered with the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC). The viral screenshot alleged that Indian-origin Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja had been named Treasurer and Custodian of Records for the new party. However, Musk has clarified in a post today that the filing is fake and no such registration has been made with the FEC.
Party formation
Musk's new political move challenges Democrat-Republican uniparty system
Musk's America Party was formed after a fallout with US President Donald Trump over differing views on a budget bill. The billionaire announced the party on X (formerly Twitter), saying it aims to challenge America's "one-party system." He had previously said that if the spending bill passed, an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty would be needed so that people could have a voice.
Career progression
Taneja was the highest-paid CFO globally in 2024
Taneja has been with Tesla for over eight years, holding various key positions. He is currently the CFO and has been the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) since March 2019. Before joining Tesla, he spent a year at SolarCity (solar company co-founded by Musk) and nearly 17 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers advising Fortune 500 clients on financial controls and IPO. In 2024, Taneja received total compensation amounting to $139 million, making him the highest-paid CFO in the world.
Qualifications
Taneja is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Accountant
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant, Taneja has extensive experience in US GAAP financial reporting, SEC compliance, internal controls, audit oversight, and guiding companies through IPOs. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University and chartered accountancy credentials from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.