The ambitious plan could reportedly raise investor concerns over the billionaire’s competing roles across his businesses
SpaceX has approved a plan linking stock compensation for founder and CEO Elon Musk to building a colony on Mars and operating large-scale data centers in space, Reuters has reported, citing confidential company filings.
Under the ambitious plan, Musk could be granted up to 200 million super‑voting shares if the company reaches a valuation of $7.5 trillion and helps establish a permanent human settlement on Mars with at least one million residents, according to the report on Tuesday.
Additional incentives are tied to developing space-based computing infrastructure capable of delivering at least 100 terawatts of processing power, roughly comparable to 100,000 one‑gigawatt nuclear reactors running at the same time.
The structure means Musk would not receive any shares unless the targets are met. The goals are not bound to a fixed deadline provided he stays with the company. Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002 and is currently regarded as the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of around $800 billion, has drawn a nominal salary of about $54,000 per year since 2019, while holding tens of millions of stock options.
The compensation package comes as SpaceX is reportedly preparing for a massive IPO in June, with potential valuations estimated at about $1.75 trillion.
Corporate governance experts cited by Reuters said the arrangement could raise questions for investors, particularly given Musk’s leadership of multiple companies, including electric vehicle maker Tesla, where his compensation has also been tied to performance targets. Analysts said the plan may intensify scrutiny over how he allocates his time and attention among competing businesses.
Last week, a New York Times investigation suggested that SpaceX had provided loans to Musk, including borrowing backed by his holdings. The newspaper said he borrowed about $500 million from SpaceX between 2018 and 2020 at below-market interest rates, using the company as a source of financing for other ventures such as Tesla and SolarCity.
The NYT described the arrangement as effectively turning the aerospace firm into a “piggy bank” for Musk’s wider business empire and said he may face increased scrutiny from Wall Street as SpaceX prepares to go public.
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