Musk doesn't take a salary at Tesla, but in 2018 the electric car manufacturer's board approved a huge bonus package. If the company reached ambitious goals, he would receive stock options that are currently valued at around $140 billion (1.3 trillion kronor).
But the package has been the subject of a years-long tug-of-war in the courts, with Delaware Judge Kathaleen McCormick repeatedly invalidating it, arguing that it is unfair to other shareholders and that the board is too loyal to Musk.
Twelve milestones
However, on Friday, the US state's highest court ruled that the package should be implemented. How much it is ultimately worth remains to be seen – it depends on the stock price and consists of twelve milestones to be achieved over a ten-year period, according to the original statement on Tesla's website .
But if all 12 steps were converted into cash today, they would be worth nearly $140 billion, according to CNN . That compares with Musk's total fortune, which is estimated to be around $650 billion (SKK 6 trillion) – already making him the world's richest person.
Could become a dollar billionaire
Questions remain, however. Like what will happen to the other compensation packages Tesla approved for Musk while the Delaware court case was ongoing. According to the AP, it concerns both a “temporary” package of $29 billion from August of this year, and a new bonus plan intended to replace the package from 2018.
The latter could, over the next ten years – if Tesla continues to achieve extreme growth targets – lead to options for Musk worth up to $1,000 billion (9.3 trillion SEK).
