• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechElon Musk

Elon Musk Is On Track to Collect $1.6 Billion From Tesla

Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 19, 2016, 9:37 AM ET
Germany's Economy And Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel Meets Tesla Motors Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk
Elon Musk, billionaire and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors Inc., arrives for a news conference in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Tesla Motors Inc. chief executive officer Elon Musk said revelations that Volkswagen AG cheated on diesel emission tests is "obviously bad," but that the issue the world should really be concerned about is carbon dioxide emissions. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Krisztian Bocsi — Bloomberg via Getty Images

Elon Musk has made good on about half of his 2022 goals as CEO of Tesla Motors (TSLA)—and in short order.

In just five years, Musk has achieved 12 of his 20 combined milestones laid out in a 2012 stock plan. The accomplishments entitle the chief executive to $1.6 billion worth of stock options, well beyond the $40,000 annual salary that he makes yet has never accepted.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Musk’s executive pay scheme pairs operational goals, such as completing certain car prototypes, or producing some multiple of hundreds of thousands of vehicles, with market cap goals—continuously adding $4 billion to the company’s stock market value. Whenever Musk achieves one of each type of milestone, then a tenth of the total 5.27 million stock reserved for him at a price of $31.17 per share vests.

As a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission lays out, Musk has made quick progress. The PayPal (PYPL) and SpaceX founder has realized seven of Tesla’s market cap goals as the company’s stock market value has ballooned to $34 billion from $4 billion when the goals were set. (He has three market cap goals left, extending to $43.2 billion.) Musk has also landed five of the 10 operational goals.

Per the SEC filing (bold indicates completed):

• Successful completion of the Model X Alpha Prototype;
• Successful completion of the Model X Beta Prototype;
• Completion of the first Model X Production Vehicle;
• Successful completion of the Model 3 Alpha Prototype;
• Successful completion of the Model 3 Beta Prototype;
• Completion of the first Model 3 Production Vehicle;
• Gross margin of 30% or more for four consecutive quarters;
• Aggregate vehicle production of 100,000 vehicles;
• Aggregate vehicle production of 200,000 vehicles; and
• Aggregate vehicle production of 300,000 vehicles.

“Many of the requisite milestones were viewed as very difficult to achieve when the 2012 CEO Grant was made,” the company wrote in its April 15 filing.

For more on Tesla stock, watch:

Although Tesla did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment, spokesperson Khobi Brooklyn told Bloomberg that Tesla considers the filing to be its official comment.

About the Author
Robert Hackett
By Robert Hackett
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

A Mark Cuban-backed AI startup is helping families turn conversations with their elderly relatives into lasting memories
Startups & VentureTech
A Mark Cuban-backed AI startup is helping families turn conversations with their elderly relatives into lasting memories
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 25, 2026
33 minutes ago
SpaceX, Anduril among companies to win Golden Dome contracts
Politicsarms, weapons, and defense
SpaceX, Anduril among companies to win Golden Dome contracts
By Tony Capaccio and BloombergApril 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Musk drops fraud claims against OpenAI, Altman ahead of trial
LawElon Musk
Musk drops fraud claims against OpenAI, Altman ahead of trial
By Madlin Mekelburg, Robert Burnson and BloombergApril 25, 2026
2 hours ago
mark
CommentaryJobs
I lost my job to AI. Here’s why mass layoffs won’t transform your company
By Mark QuinnApril 25, 2026
11 hours ago
Late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs
SuccessCareers
Apple’s Steve Jobs told students to never ‘settle’ in their careers: ‘If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking’
By Emma BurleighApril 25, 2026
12 hours ago
A teen boy lays on a bed looking at his phone.
LawSocial Media
Most Australian teens admit the social media ban isn’t working as they try to sidestep age verification blocks with face masks and their parents’ IDs
By Sasha RogelbergApril 25, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

According to Warren Buffett's math the stock market is officially in 'playing with fire' territory. So when is the next crash coming?
Investing
According to Warren Buffett's math the stock market is officially in 'playing with fire' territory. So when is the next crash coming?
By Shawn TullyApril 25, 2026
15 hours ago
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
Success
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
By Emma BurleighApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
C-Suite
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 24, 2026
1 day ago
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
Success
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
By Preston ForeApril 25, 2026
15 hours ago
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
Politics
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
By Sasha RogelbergApril 24, 2026
1 day ago
When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
Economy
When interest on national debt overtook military spending, it triggered a limit where the U.S. may ‘cease to be a great power,’ warns Hoover historian
By Eleanor PringleApril 23, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.