Musk Says He’ll Stay Tesla CEO for Next Five Years

Musk Commits to Leading Tesla for Five More Years

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has pledged to remain at the helm of the electric vehicle giant for at least the next five years, addressing concerns from investors over his growing political involvement and shifting priorities.

“Yes, no doubt about that at all,” Musk said Tuesday in a video interview at the Bloomberg Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, responding to a question about his commitment to leading Tesla.

In this photo gallery, we track Musk’s high-stakes run at Tesla and beyond. The White House / Wikimedia

Tesla CEO Seeks Voting Control to Prevent Ouster by Activists

“It’s not a money thing,” Musk said. “It’s a reasonable control thing over the future of the company.” He added that he wants “sufficient voting control” to prevent activist investors from pushing him out. The White House / Wikimedia

Musk Defends Time Split Between Tesla and Trump Admin Role

Investor concern has grown over Musk’s side ventures and political activities. Most notably, he has been serving as a key advisor to President Donald Trump, helping lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk stated during Tesla’s most recent earnings call that his time commitment to DOGE will “drop significantly by the end of May,” although he still expects to spend “a day or two per week” on the role. The White House / Wikimedia

Tesla Faces Steep Revenue, Profit Declines in Q1 2025

Musk’s dual focus comes as Tesla reported disappointing financial results in Q1 2025, with a 20% year-over-year drop in automotive revenue and a staggering 71% decline in net income. The stock is down 15% year-to-date. Despite the volatility, Tesla shares closed mostly flat on Tuesday. Infrogmation / Wikimedia

Political Ties Spark Protests, Consumer Backlash Against Tesla

Musk’s increasing alignment with the Republican Party and public efforts to support Trump’s reelection have triggered backlash. Several Tesla facilities have been targeted in acts of protest, and some potential EV buyers have distanced themselves from the brand. Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Musk to Curb Political Spending After Wave of Criticism

In response to the political fallout, Musk said he plans to scale back campaign contributions, stating he’ll spend “a lot less” on politics going forward. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Starlink May Go Public as Musk Juggles Multiple Ventures

Despite the turbulence, Musk remains optimistic about his other ventures. He noted that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, could eventually spin off as a public company. “It’s possible that Starlink may go public at some point in the future,” he said.

Musk also continues to lead SpaceX, the AI company xAI, and the neurotechnology firm Neuralink. Official SpaceX Photos / Wikimedia