Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Ambition Faces Resistance Over Robot Army Control

Musk’s Unprecedented Compensation Package Sparks Corporate Battle

Elon Musk stands at the precipice of becoming the world’s first trillionaire, but his path faces significant opposition from influential proxy advisors and corporate governance experts. The Tesla CEO’s proposed $1 trillion compensation package, set for a November 6 investor vote, has become the centerpiece of a heated debate about corporate control and the future of artificial intelligence.

The Voting Power Quest Behind the Pay Package

During Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call, Musk revealed that his motivation isn’t purely financial. “I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army if I don’t have at least a strong influence,” Musk stated, clarifying that he’s seeking voting power in the “mid-20s approximately.” Currently holding around 13.5% voting control, the proposed plan would grant him an additional 12% stake over the coming decade., according to industry experts

The billionaire’s candid remarks highlight his determination to maintain strategic direction over Tesla’s most ambitious projects, particularly the Optimus humanoid robot program that Musk describes as crucial to the company‘s future.

Proxy Advisors Draw Musk’s Ire

Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, two leading proxy advisory firms, have recommended that Tesla investors reject Musk’s compensation package. Their concerns center around potential dilution of company value and insufficient detail in the proposal’s structure. Musk responded with characteristic bluntness, labeling both firms “corporate terrorists” during the earnings discussion.

This confrontation represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between Musk’s visionary leadership style and traditional corporate governance standards. The outcome of the November vote could redefine power dynamics within one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Optimus: Tesla’s “Infinite Money Glitch”

At the heart of Musk’s power play lies the Optimus robot project, which the CEO described in almost miraculous terms. “It won’t even seem like a robot. It’ll seem like a person in a robot suit,” Musk claimed, suggesting the technology would be so advanced that observers would need physical verification to confirm they’re seeing machinery rather than human movement.

Musk made extraordinary claims about Optimus’s capabilities, stating the robots could achieve “probably 5x the productivity of a person per year” and even perform as “in incredible surgeon.” He characterized the technology as an “infinite money glitch,” indicating his belief in its virtually unlimited economic potential.

Autonomous Driving Expansion Amid Competitive Pressure

While defending his compensation package, Musk also outlined aggressive expansion plans for Tesla’s autonomous vehicle initiatives. The company aims to remove safety drivers from robotaxis in “large parts of Austin by the end of this year,” representing a significant step toward fully autonomous operations.

Tesla plans to expand its robotaxi service from two current markets (Austin and San Francisco) to eight to ten metropolitan areas by year’s end, including Nevada, Florida, and Arizona. New markets will initially operate with safety monitors for at least the first three months before transitioning to full autonomy.

This expansion comes as competition intensifies, with Waymo operating in five metro areas and planning five additional launches. The autonomous vehicle space heated up further when General Motors announced plans to debut “eyes-off” electric vehicles by 2028, just hours before Tesla’s earnings call.

Confident Claims About AI Superiority

Musk expressed absolute confidence in Tesla’s artificial intelligence capabilities, stating, “At this point I feel 100% confident that we can solve unsupervised full self-driving at a safety level much greater than any human.” He attributed this advantage to Tesla’s “highest intelligence density,” claiming the company’s AI is “probably an order of magnitude better than anyone else” when measuring “intelligence per gigabyte.”, as previous analysis

The Tesla chief also highlighted autonomous parking capabilities, suggesting Tesla vehicles will outperform humans in identifying available parking spaces thanks to 360-degree vision and advanced intelligence systems.

Strategic Pivot Amid Challenging Automotive Market

Tesla’s intensified focus on robotics and artificial intelligence comes as the company faces headwinds in its core automotive business. While delivering a record number of vehicles last quarter, profits declined partly due to tariffs and the elimination of EV tax credits. This challenging environment appears to have accelerated Tesla’s strategic shift toward higher-margin AI and robotics ventures.

As Musk seeks unprecedented control over Tesla’s direction, investors must weigh his visionary track record against corporate governance concerns. The November vote will determine whether Musk receives the voting power he believes necessary to build his “robot army” and potentially become the world’s first trillionaire in the process.

References & Further Reading

This article draws from multiple authoritative sources. For more information, please consult:

• https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2025/10/22/tesla-tsla-q3-2025-earnings-call-transcript/

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