In an unscripted moment during Tesla’s earnings call, Elon Musk interrupted to criticize what he termed “asinine” recommendations from proxy advisory firms regarding his trillion-dollar compensation package. The blunt assessment came days before the November 6 shareholder vote in Austin.
Tesla’s quarterly earnings presentation had covered the company’s advances in artificial intelligence, robotaxi services, and humanoid robotics before Musk’s dramatic intervention. His decision to break corporate protocol with such direct language highlighted his frustration with external interference in Tesla’s governance decisions.
Musk articulated his position that sufficient voting control is necessary to protect Tesla’s strategic vision while accepting appropriate shareholder oversight. He presented the compensation issue as crucial for continuing ambitious technology initiatives without facing removal based on recommendations from advisors he considers fundamentally misguided.
ISS and Glass Lewis became the primary targets of Musk’s criticism, with the CEO suggesting their recommendations demonstrate a lack of understanding about Tesla’s business model. His passionate denunciation included specific references to the discomfort of building advanced robotics while facing potential ouster based on their advice.
The earnings call concluded with CFO Vaibhav Taneja defending the compensation arrangement’s shareholder alignment. Taneja emphasized that the board committee structured the package to ensure Musk benefits only when investors achieve substantial returns, making multiple final appeals for favorable votes.