The Kaipher Editorial Team 
Tesla stock jumped over 8% in premarket trading Monday after CEO Elon Musk disclosed his first open-market purchase since 2020, acquiring approximately 2.57 million shares—worth about $1 billion—at prices between $372.37 and $396.54 (Yahoo Finance; Economic Times). This marks his largest insider acquisition by value, according to Verity data, vastly outpacing his last purchase of 200,000 shares worth $10 million.
Board’s $1 Trillion Compensation Proposal
The stock buy comes as Tesla’s board has unveiled an unprecedented pay package that could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire if he meets aggressive targets over the next decade. Set for a shareholder vote on November 6, the plan grants Musk additional shares equal to 12% of Tesla if its market capitalization climbs from $1.3 trillion to $8.5 trillion (Teslarati). Board chair Robyn Denholm defends the package as vital to drive Musk toward “seemingly impossible goals,” emphasizing voting influence over personal wealth.
Market Reaction and Analyst Commentary
Shares closed Friday at $395.94 and traded near $420 in premarket on Monday—levels unseen since January 2025. Despite a 2% year-to-date decline, Tesla stock surged 7.4% on Friday and over 25% in the past three months (Economic Times). “It’s a huge vote of confidence from Musk and the bulls love seeing this,” said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, highlighting the positive signal after a tumultuous year.
Criticism and Context
Critics, including Pope Leo XIV, have lambasted the compensation proposal as emblematic of extreme wealth inequality. “What does it mean to be the first trillionaire?” the pontiff asked, warning that equating money with value puts society at risk. Meanwhile, Tesla grapples with slowing vehicle deliveries, mounting competition from Chinese rivals like BYD, and an underwhelming Cybertruck rollout.
