Tesla's Board Denies CEO Speculation, Musk Criticizes Misleading Publication
In a recent turn of events, Tesla's board of directors has publicly denied reports suggesting a search for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk. The denial came after a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article claimed that the board had reached out to executive search firms for a successor.
Tesla chair Robyn Denholm explicitly refuted these claims on August 14, 2025, affirming that there are no plans currently to look for a new CEO. It's important to note that the WSJ article did not include a statement from Tesla's Chair Robyn Denholm, who previously confirmed that Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s board recently approved a substantial $29 billion pay package for Elon Musk, contingent on him remaining in a senior leadership role for at least two more years. This compensation deal reflects the board's intent to retain Musk and keep him focused on the company's strategic pivot into AI, robotics, and robotaxis, despite some shareholder concerns and legal challenges over previous compensation plans.
Elon Musk himself has accused the WSJ of publishing a deliberately false article and of failing to include an unequivocal denial by the Tesla board of directors before publication. He also expressed his displeasure, stating that this constitutes an extremely bad breach of ethics.
Despite the media reports suggesting a CEO search had begun, the official position by Tesla’s board is that they are not actively seeking a replacement for Musk and are instead rewarding him to ensure his continued leadership at Tesla. The board is highly confident in Elon Musk's ability to continue executing on the growth plan ahead.
It's worth mentioning that the links to the WSJ and Reuters articles, which initially sparked this controversy, are no longer available on the web.
This development comes as Tesla continues to navigate competitive challenges in the EV market, with concerns about Elon Musk's divided focus across multiple companies being a reported reason for the alleged CEO search. However, the company and its board remain steadfast in their support for Musk's leadership.
- The recent article by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) about a potential search for a new CEO at Tesla, despite Tesla's chair Robyn Denholm's denial, raises questions about the intersection of finance, business, and technology, particularly in the realm of general-news reporting and ethics.
- In spite of the media speculation, Tesla's board's decision to approve a substantial pay package for Elon Musk, demonstrates their commitment to his continued leadership in the company's growth and strategic pivot into AI, robotics, and robotaxis, a key aspect of industry news and technological advancements.
