Musk’s Mega Tesla Pay, AI Chip Ambitions, And SpaceX Moves

Elon Musk is back in the spotlight! From a record-breaking Tesla pay package to next-gen AI chips and SpaceX’s growing satellite network, Musk’s vision is bigger than cars or rockets; it’s about building a tech ecosystem that touches everyday life worldwide.

Let’s see what unfolded. Read on!

Elon Musk just won shareholder approval for the biggest corporate pay package ever, potentially earning him up to $1 trillion in Tesla stock over the next ten years. The plan, approved by over 75% of investors at Tesla’s annual meeting in Austin, ties his pay to some ambitious targets: producing 20 million vehicles, running 1 million robotaxis, selling 1 million humanoid robots, and generating $400 billion in profit.

On stage, Musk, joined by dancing robots, said, “What we are about to embark upon is not merely a new chapter of the future of Tesla, but a whole new book.” Each milestone, plus a rise in Tesla’s stock from $1.5 trillion today to potentially $8.5 trillion earns him 1% of shares. Even if it falls short, Musk could still have with tens of billions.

Shareholders also approved Tesla investing in Musk’s AI startup, xAI, though some remain cautious about overlapping businesses. Musk added, “Other shareholder meetings are like snoozefests, but ours are bangers. I mean, look at this. This is sick.”

Musk’s ambitious plans extend beyond pay packages, as he outlined Tesla’s next steps in AI chip development.


Elon Musk said Tesla may soon build “a gigantic chip fab” to produce its next-generation AI chips, hinting at a potential partnership with Intel. Speaking at Tesla’s annual meeting, Musk told shareholders, “You know, maybe we'll, we'll do something with Intel. We haven't signed any deal, but it's probably worth having discussions with Intel.”

The AI5 chip will be power-efficient, inexpensive, and optimized for Tesla software. “I'm super hardcore on chips right now as you may be able to tell. I have chips on the brain,” Musk said.

Tesla is developing its fifth-generation AI chip to power autonomous vehicles and other AI initiatives. Musk said current suppliers, including TSMC and Samsung, won’t meet future demand.

“Even when we extrapolate the best-case scenario for chip production from our suppliers, it's still not enough. So I think we may have to do a Tesla terafab. It's like giga but way bigger. I can't see any other way to get to the volume of chips that we're looking for. So I think we're probably going to have to build a gigantic chip fab. It's got to be done,” he said.

While Tesla builds its chip capabilities, SpaceX is expanding its satellite reach through EchoStar spectrum deals.

EchoStar is all set to sell more wireless spectrum licenses to SpaceX for about $2.6 billion in stock, building on a $17 billion deal from September. The licenses cover U.S. airwaves that could help deliver fast, affordable mobile and satellite services.

“By combining EchoStar's wireless airwaves with SpaceX's rocket launch and satellite manufacturing capabilities, they can quickly create strong and affordable direct-to-cell services,” said Hamid Akhavan, who will lead EchoStar’s new investment arm.

Co-founder Charlie Ergen will be the CEO, while existing services like Dish TV, Sling TV, Boost Mobile, and Hughes will continue as usual.

Further, EchoStar sets the stage for Starlink’s next major partnership with global telecom operators.

Elon Musk's Starlink has signed its largest direct-to-cell deal yet, partnering with telecom group Veon to reach over 150 million potential customers.

The service will first roll out with Veon operators Kyivstar in Ukraine in Q4 2025 and Beeline in Kazakhstan in 2026. “This is the biggest partnership in terms of addressable customer base in the world,” said Kyivstar’s Ilya Polshakov.

Veon, which also operates in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan, can still pursue agreements with other satellite providers, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile.

Starlink currently serves over 7 million users globally, with 8,000 satellites with 650 dedicated to direct-to-cell service and partnerships with operators in 11 countries, including T-Mobile in the U.S. and Rogers in Canada. The deal highlights Starlink’s push to expand its reach as the satellite-to-phone connectivity market heats up.

Do you think Starlink’s partnership with Veon will change how we use mobile networks in remote areas?

Do you think Tesla’s AI chip plans will give the company a major edge in autonomous driving?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!