Musk: Only death will do us part from Tesla CEO role

Elon Musk has made it clear he isn't planning on vacating the driver's seat at Tesla anytime soon. In fact, he suggested that the only way he foresees leaving his post as CEO within the next five years is if he, to put it plainly, "dies." This rather stark declaration comes amidst a backdrop of shareholder unease regarding his various other business and political engagements.

Speaking via video link at the recent Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Musk expressed "no doubt" about his continued leadership for at least half a decade. While some investors in the EV behemoth might find this news unsettling, particularly those concerned about his focus being diluted, Musk's track record of transforming Tesla from a startup into a global automotive powerhouse is difficult to ignore. Under his guidance, Tesla has become one of the world's largest electric car manufacturers by volume and the most valuable by market capitalization.

At the same time, Musk is not giving up his drive to increase his personal stake in Tesla to 25%. He currently holds 12.77% of the company, a share worth over $140 billion. Musk argues that he isn't driven by financial gain. "It's not a money thing," he stated in a separate interview. Instead, he described it as a "reasonable control over the future of the company." He believes a 25% stake would provide him with significant influence, making it harder for activist investors to oust him, yet not so much control that he couldn't be removed if he were "destroying the value of the company or if I've just gone flat-out crazy."

These assertions arrive after a period of speculation regarding his long-term commitment to Tesla. Some reports suggested that members of Tesla's board had grown concerned about Musk's extensive involvement in US politics, and were reaching out to executive search firms to identify potential CEO successors. Both Elon Musk and Tesla have denied these claims and dismissed them as false. For the moment, it appears the captain intends to remain firmly at the helm.

In a related development that might calm some of the concerned shareholders, Musk has also indicated a big shift in his approach to political spending. After reportedly investing nearly $300 million last year to support President Trump's bid to return to the White House, the Tesla chief now says he plans to "do a lot less" political spending moving forward. He didn't entirely rule out future political contributions, though, stating, "If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it," he added, "I do not currently see a reason." This change of heart could be seen as a clever move to reassure investors that his main focus stays firmly on his corporate responsibilities.

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