Elon Musk is the CEO of companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, as well as a billionaire investor. People around the world are fascinated by his ambitious projects and his larger-than-life lifestyle. This raises the question of how Musk pays himself and funds his projects. Unfortunately, he does not offer a straightforward answer to this question.
Musk’s level of compensation is largely unclear to the public. Companies are not legally required to disclose their CEO’s salary and Tesla does not disclose this information. Furthermore, Musk does not take monetary compensation for his position within the company. According to a Tesla proxy statement in 2020: “Mr. Musk has not received and currently does not receive any salary or other cash compensation from Tesla, but is eligible to receive future equity awards.”
That being said, Musk still makes money while working at Tesla and SpaceX. He is one of the biggest shareholders in both companies and has many stock options. For example, in 2018, Musk received $2.28 billion in stock options which he did not cash out. According to James B. Stewart, a staff writer for The New York Times, Musk sold $172.3 million worth of stocks in two different transactions in 2019, but it is not known how much of that money was for his own personal gain as opposed to charitable causes.
Moreover, Forbes estimates that eight companies that Musk has founded, including Tesla and SpaceX, have a combined market value of more than $150 billion. Consequently, Musk is reported to hold a 40% stake in both companies, which gives him substantial shares of their value. Reports from public documents suggest that from the years 2018–2020, Musk owned 33 million Tesla shares but he does not have any plans to sell them off. Consequently, he is estimated to earn tens of millions of dollars each year from dividends derived from the stock he holds in both companies.
In addition to his business enterprises, Musk has interests outside his companies. He owns real estate around the world and has a $1 billion collection of artwork. He is also an avid gambler, which he manages with the help of an agent. He reportedly spent over $10 million in Las Vegas over the summer, although this may not be applicable when considering how he pays himself.
Finally, while he puts most of the money he makes back into his businesses, it can be assumed that some of it, at least, is used to personally finance a luxurious lifestyle. For example, he was seen vacationing in exotic locations during 2020, such as the Mexican Riviera.
Business Ventures
Musk is also reportedly very involved in a variety of business ventures, ranging from real estate to more speculative investments. Not much is known about these ventures but according to Bloomberg, Musk was an investor in DeepMind, the artificial intelligence startup that was acquired by Google in 2014 for a reported $400 million. It is not clear how much, if any, money Musk made from this investment, but it is obvious that he continues to look for and invest in opportunities outside of Tesla and SpaceX.
In addition to investing his own money, Musk often partners with venture capital firms to finance projects that many deem too risky. He also collaborates with other entrepreneurs, using his knowledge and experience to help them build successful companies. For example, Musk and his team played integral roles in the founding of PayPal and Hyperloop. As such, it is fair to assume that Musk receives money from these partnerships.
Musk also appears to be an active angel investor, backing a variety of startups from healthcare to energy. In 2016, he invested in the artificial intelligence startup Vicarious, which has since been valued at more than $1 billion, suggesting that Musk has made a substantial return on this investment.
Charitable Donations
In addition to his business activities and investments, Musk is known to frequently make charitable donations. His philanthropic endeavors are wide-ranging and cover topics such as education, the environment, and health. Additionally, he donates to a variety of international charities, including UNICEF, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and World Vision.
Musk is also involved in initiatives such as medical research, climate change initiatives, and clean energy solutions. He has donated millions of dollars to fund these initiatives, and in some cases, he has spearheaded them himself, such as with solar panel projects and research for Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, he has sponsored students through a variety of programs.
While it is impossible to calculate precisely how much money Musk donates to charity each year, it is clear that this is an important part of his personal finances and he invests heavily in a variety of philanthropic endeavors.
Income Tax
Income taxes are another important factor when considering how Musk pays himself. According to Forbes, Musk settled on paying $ 625.7 million over 20 years in June 2020 with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as part of a settlement in a court dispute over the amount of taxes he owed. This settlement was part of an agreement in which he reduced the amount owed in taxes to a fifth of what the IRS initially demanded.
Overall, it is evident that Elon Musk pays himself in a variety of ways. While much of his money is returned to his businesses, the majority of his income comes from the substantial stake he holds in Tesla and SpaceX. Additionally, he invests in a variety of other ventures and frequently donates to charitable causes. Furthermore, he has to pay significant amounts of income tax each year, which could be easily overlooked. All of this goes to show that the life of a billionaire is not as glamorous and carefree as it may seem.
Visual Media
In addition to his monetary investments, Musk is heavily involved in creating visual media that reflects his own personal interests and ambitions. Musk himself serves as a producer on several shows and movies, such as the comedy “Why Him?” and the documentary “Do You Trust This Computer?”.
Furthermore, he serves as a creative consultant for the upcoming sci-fi television series “Foundation”, based on Isaac Asimov’s classic novel. Musk has been actively involved in the production of the series, working personally with the writers on a regular basis. His involvement is seen as an effort to help bring science fiction to the public.
Additionally, Musk has recently become involved in the production of feature films. This includes working with major Hollywood actors such as Owen Wilson and having his own team of writers and producers. He is even planning to produce a feature film of his own that has yet to be announced.
This goes to show that visual media is an important part of how Musk pays himself. As a major investor in these productions and a creative consultant, he stands to gain substantial amounts of money if these projects are successful.
Ventures Beyond Earth
Finally, Musk has also invested in space exploration. He is the CEO and lead designer of the aerospace corporation SpaceX. His goal with the company is to develop a spacecraft and launch system that is capable of transporting humans to Mars. If successful, he estimates that it could cost around $100,000 per person to make the trip. This project is estimated to cost upwards of $10 billion and will require significant investments in order to become a reality.
Musk arguably plans to pay for this project partially through his own investments. As the largest shareholder in SpaceX, he stands to benefit significantly if Mars exploration is successful. Moreover, he recently established a funding arm called Starlink, which is a satellite constellation that provides high-speed internet services. This arm is estimated to be worth $10 billion and is another example of how Musk earns money beyond his business enterprises.
Musk is also a major investor in the Boring Company, a tunnel construction company. The company is working on developing a network of underground tunnels that would enable high-speed travel across cities. This has the potential to revolutionize transportation, potentially creating profit for Musk.
While much of the money he makes from these initiatives is returned to his businesses, it is safe to assume that some of it is used to personally finance his life. This enables Musk to pay himself while still working towards his ambitious projects.
