American billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, sparked widespread controversy during Tesla’s Q3 2025 earnings discussion. Musk revealed that he seeks a $1 trillion compensation package to gain control over what he described as Tesla’s “robot army.”
The remarks, which surprised analysts and financial markets alike, came as Musk presented the company’s financial results. He clarified that the package is not intended for actual spending but rather serves as a form of insurance to secure his personal influence over the massive robotics project in the future.
“I’m primarily concerned that if I build this enormous army of robots, could I be removed later? That’s my biggest worry. I wouldn’t feel comfortable controlling this army unless I at least have strong influence,” Musk said, according to Mashable.
