Elon Musk Interrupts Tesla CFO to Defend Controversial Pay Package

In an unusual breach of corporate protocol, Elon Musk interrupted Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer during the earnings call to make a personal case for his trillion-dollar compensation package. The intervention highlighted the stakes of the upcoming November 6 shareholder vote in Austin.
Tesla’s earnings presentation had systematically covered the company’s AI developments, autonomous vehicle progress, and Optimus robot advancements before Musk’s takeover. The CEO’s decision to break into the call’s conclusion revealed his deep concern about maintaining control over Tesla’s strategic direction.
Musk’s central thesis involved securing adequate voting power to protect his vision for Tesla while accepting appropriate accountability mechanisms. He framed the issue as critical for continuing to lead ambitious projects in robotics and artificial intelligence without facing removal from outside advisors.
ISS and Glass Lewis became the primary targets of Musk’s ire, with the CEO accusing them of incompetence and misalignment with investor interests. His colorful language included concerns about being ousted while “building a robot army,” emphasizing his view that these firms don’t understand Tesla’s technological mission.
The earnings call concluded with CFO Vaibhav Taneja defending the compensation package’s structure and shareholder alignment. Taneja explained that the board committee ensured Musk receives nothing unless shareholders achieve substantial returns, making multiple final appeals for investor support of the plan.