Is He Irreplaceable or Simply Being Deified?

A compensation package worth $1 trillion! Such a jaw-dropping scenario, one that even short dramas would hesitate to depict, is now unfolding in the real world.

Recently, Tesla's chairman issued an ultimatum to shareholders, urging them to vote swiftly in favor of Musk's $1 trillion compensation package, stressing that the company simply cannot afford to lose him!

Wow, this compensation package could very well rival the GDP of some nations. Handing out wages on a GDP scale to a single individual—only Musk seems to warrant such extraordinary treatment.

However, let me interject with a 'however' here.

Earning this $1 trillion compensation won't be a walk in the park, and there's certainly no room for complacency.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

First and foremost, several 'daunting' targets must be met:

1. In terms of market value, Tesla must surge from $1 trillion to $8.5 trillion within a decade.

2. Annual car deliveries must skyrocket to 20 million units, accompanied by the production of 1 million humanoid robots and 1 million self-driving taxis.

3. Profits must soar from $16.6 billion to $400 billion, marking a staggering 24-fold increase.

Putting aside all other considerations, I can only describe these targets with two words—a high-stakes gamble. It's a bet that Musk can continue his legendary streak and transform Tesla from an automaker into an AI powerhouse.

The rationale behind placing such a 'high-stakes gamble' on Musk, I suspect, dates back to 2018. Back then, similarly ambitious targets were set, and to everyone's astonishment, Musk achieved them all ahead of schedule. Nevertheless, the controversy surrounding his compensation has persisted from the early days to the present.

Image source: Weibo

As we're all aware, a large enterprise would never concentrate all its power in the hands of a single individual. A board of directors typically exists to oversee such matters, and Tesla is no exception. Therefore, when it comes to Musk's compensation, there are both proponents and detractors.

Proponents argue that Musk is the very soul of Tesla and cannot be replaced.

Detractors, on the other hand, believe the compensation plan is outrageous and lacks proper constraints.

To be honest, Musk is indeed the 'soul' of Tesla. When Tesla was on the verge of bankruptcy, Musk invested all his personal funds, slept on the factory floor, and oversaw the mass production of the Model 3. Even the core technologies were developed under his leadership. Additionally, Musk is a marketing genius, leveraging his personal brand for promotion. The Starship launch boosted Tesla's 'space tech' image, the acquisition of Twitter (now rebranded as X) generated global buzz, and his clashes with Trump kept Tesla in the limelight. It's as if 'Musk's mouth is Tesla's legs.'

Image source: Tesla's official website

I also conducted a brief online survey with several Tesla owners, and many indeed purchased their vehicles due to Musk's stellar reputation and personal charm. While ordinary consumers primarily focus on product quality, some groups do take into account personal brand marketing and overall product strength when making their purchases.

Now, as Tesla aims to compete in the AI and robotics sectors, Musk's stellar reputation might be the only one capable of pulling off such a crossover. As the saying goes, 'if you want the horse to run, you have to feed it.'

Musk himself has taken a hardline stance, implying that 'if the plan is rejected, he won't remain as Tesla's CEO.' In other words, without stock control and proper compensation, he's open to someone else taking the helm!

Image source: Xiaohongshu

At this juncture, some might argue that the Earth will keep spinning regardless of who leaves. Even if Musk steps down, someone else will step up, and each generation will surpass the last.

I believe the Earth will indeed keep spinning. However, a company's soul figure isn't so easily replaceable... Take Apple, for instance—without Steve Jobs, it's constantly criticized for incremental updates. Looking at the domestic tech scene, there are also soul figures like Xiaomi's Lei Jun, Gree Electric's Dong Mingzhu, and JD.com's Liu Qiangdong. They are deeply intertwined with their companies and brands, and the market highly recognizes their leadership.

As a netizen aptly put it: Musk draws grand visions for the world. Whether we can achieve them is another matter, but without him, there wouldn't even be a vision to chase. Domestic entrepreneurs are like those making steamed buns—not flashy, but they get the job done.

Image source: Xiaohongshu

The voting results will be announced in a few days. Let's wait and see if, on November 6th, Musk can secure this $1 trillion and stock control, achieving these 'daunting' targets.

By the way, do you think Musk has what it takes?

Source: Leikeji

Images in this article are from the 123RF licensed image library. Source: Leikeji