Elon Musk fires back after Democrat slams his $1tr payday

Elon Musk has fired back at US Democratic Senator Roland Gutierrez, who criticised his newly approved $1 trillion Tesla compensation package. 

The payout, now the largest in corporate history, was approved by more than 75% of Tesla shareholders during the company’s annual meeting on November 6.

On X (formerly Twitter), Senator Gutierrez criticised the deal, writing: “Elon Musk wants to become a trillionaire off the backs of American taxpayers while we are struggling just to pay for groceries.”

Musk did not hold back. Responding directly, the Tesla CEO accused the senator of misunderstanding how value creation works and dismissed the criticism as politically motivated.

“You are a taker, not a maker,” Musk wrote. “All you’ve done your whole life is take from the makers of the world. The zero-sum mindset you have is at the root of so much evil.”

Musk defended his pay structure, insisting he receives nothing unless Tesla becomes “the most valuable company in the world by far” and maintains that position for five years.

“If Tesla ‘merely’ becomes a $1.999 trillion company, I get nothing,” he said, arguing that shareholders approved the deal because it aligns with their interests.

The billionaire also reminded Gutierrez that the margin of support he received from shareholders was “far more than you won your political seat.”