How Elon Musk Scored a $55 Billion Pay Package That’s Now Under Fire

  • Judge to review largest CEO compensation deal in US history
  • Investor says directors were in Musk’s pocket; they deny it
Elon Musk during the official opening of the Tesla factory near Gruenheide, Germany in March.Photographer: Christian Marquardt/Getty Images
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A Silicon Valley venture capitalist who served on Tesla Inc.’s board testified that the largest executive-pay package in US corporate history was necessary to keep Elon Musk “engaged” in the electric carmaker he founded.

Taking the stand Monday as the first witness in a trial over the propriety of paying Musk some $55 billion, Ira Ehrenpreis said the Tesla board recognized in 2017 that the chief executive officer was a “serial entrepreneur” and wanted to make sure he didn’t leave the company to pursue other interests.