CEO pay far outpaces median Tesla worker earnings in 2025

Elon Musk’s total compensation for 2025 was reported to be roughly 2.5 million times the median pay of a Tesla employee, according to a compensation analysis released after the company’s annual filing. The figure, which translates to an estimated $125 billion for Musk versus about $50 000 for the median worker, stems largely from performance‑based stock awards that vest when the company meets specified revenue and market‑capitalization targets.

The compensation disparity emerged as Tesla disclosed a decline in both revenue and vehicle deliveries for the year, with 2025 revenue falling 8 % to $71 billion and global deliveries dropping 5 % to 1.6 million units. Despite the downturn, the board approved Musk’s pay package, citing the long‑term value of the stock incentives. The stark contrast between executive remuneration and median employee earnings has drawn renewed attention to discussions about pay equity within the automaker.