TLDR: Kimbal Musk has publicly defended his brother Elon Musk’s interim $29 billion Tesla compensation package, emphasizing that Elon has not received a traditional salary for six to eight years. This defense comes as Tesla navigates a legal battle over a previously revoked $56 billion pay package and prepares for a shareholder vote on a new long-term compensation strategy. Elon Musk has also linked his future commitment to Tesla’s AI and robotics ambitions to increased voting control.
Kimbal Musk, co-founder of Nova Sky Stories and a Tesla board member, has publicly voiced strong support for his brother, Elon Musk, regarding his controversial $29 billion interim compensation package from Tesla. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Friday, August 22, 2025, Kimbal stated, “I think my brother deserves to be paid. … He has zero pay for the past six to eight years. I don’t think that’s right.”
The newly approved interim package for Elon Musk includes a staggering 96 million shares, potentially valued at approximately $29 billion based on Tesla’s closing price on August 1. These shares are set to vest over two years, contingent on Musk remaining in a key executive role within the company.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of significant legal challenges. In December 2024, a Delaware judge mandated Tesla to revoke Elon Musk’s previous $56 billion compensation package from 2018, deeming it ‘excessive’ and its approval process ‘deeply flawed.’ The Delaware Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for October 15 to hear Musk’s appeal regarding this decision.
Elon Musk has previously expressed his desire for greater control over Tesla, particularly concerning its ventures into artificial intelligence and robotics. In a January 2024 post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “I am uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control. Unless that is the case, I would prefer to build products outside of Tesla.”
The interim pay package was approved by a special committee of Tesla’s board, from which both Elon and Kimbal Musk recused themselves to avoid conflicts of interest. This committee is also tasked with developing a longer-term CEO compensation strategy, which will be put to a shareholder vote at the November annual meeting.
Kimbal Musk also highlighted Tesla’s strategic direction, noting, ‘we are at Tesla an AI company as as any advanced technology company.’ This underscores the growing importance of AI in Tesla’s operations and future vision.
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Investor groups, such as SOC Investment Group, have raised concerns, reportedly asking Nasdaq to investigate Tesla for a potential listing standards violation related to the compensation process.
