Elon Musk said: without 25% control, "uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics"

In 2024, Elon Musk said on X that he would feel at ease steering Tesla toward artificial intelligence and robotics only if he controlled at least 25% of shareholder votes. He then held about 13%; after recent option exercises, his stake is near 20%, with immediate voting power even though the shares vest in 2028. Tesla’s pivot remains unproven: only hundreds of Optimus robots exist, its robotaxi service is limited, and the stock has lagged the S&P 500 since his comments. A Wall Street Journal report says Tesla could treat being acquired as meeting half its goals, and a SpaceX takeover could give Musk about 73% voting control. Analysts see a merger as likely, leaving shareholders to weigh expanding Musk’s authority.