“Elon the Trillionaire?” – Musk’s Wild Ride from EV King to Political Lightning Rod

Colombo tea boutiques are buzzing: Elon Musk, the 54-year-old CEO of Tesla, may soon become the world’s first trillionaire. Yes, trillion with a “T”!

According to Tesla’s latest filings, Musk is in line for a payout worth over US$1 trillion — if his company hits an almost science-fiction list of targets: 20 million cars delivered, one million robotaxis roaming the streets, and one million AI bots in homes and offices. For context, Tesla only managed under two million vehicles last year.

But wait — there’s always gossip behind the gloss.

Shareholders, Shares, and Shocks

Tesla shareholders are set to vote on this mega-package in November. All compensation would be in stock, which means Musk has to stay with Tesla for 10 years if he wants the full jackpot. The plan would also give him more voting control over the company and force him to name a successor.

Problem is, Tesla stock has plunged 25% this year, battered by Musk’s high-profile friendship with Donald Trump and his surprise flirtation with Germany’s far-right AfD party. In Europe, Tesla sales have tanked 40%, while Chinese rival BYD is eating into the market.

Musk the Politician?

What raised the most eyebrows is Musk’s sudden political stage dives. In January, he made a surprise virtual speech at an AfD election rally in Germany, cheering on the nationalist cause and warning against “multiculturalism.” Cue: massive backlash. Activists projected “Heil Tesla” onto the Berlin Gigafactory after Musk’s awkward Nazi-style salute went viral.

Meanwhile, protesters in the U.S. and Europe are boycotting Tesla dealerships, furious over his role as head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — where he famously shut down agencies and tinkered with sensitive government data.

Billionaire or Buffoon?

Despite all the chaos, Forbes pegs Musk’s current fortune at US$400 billion. If Tesla somehow hits its futuristic goals, that fortune could swell by another US$975 billion. But with falling sales, political baggage, and stiff competition, the trillionaire dream might remain just that — a dream.

For now, gossip on Sri Lankan WhatsApp groups is simple:

“Elon’s aiming for the stars, but his Teslas are stalling on Earth.”

“Trillionaire? Maybe. But not before BYD runs him off the road.”