Keeping track of Elon Musk’s Tesla portfolio is less like traditional accounting and more like tracking a rocket’s telemetry—fast-paced, subject to atmospheric pressure (legal and market), and occasionally prone to "Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies."
As of January 27, 2026, the data from SEC filings, court rulings, and market reports tells a fascinating story of a CEO who is clawing back control of his empire. Here is the meticulous breakdown of the numbers behind the man.
The Big Number: Musk's 2026 Ownership Portfolio
As of late January 2026, Elon Musk’s ownership in Tesla consists of two distinct categories: Common Stock (shares he currently owns) and Exercisable Options (shares he has the legal right to buy).
1. Direct Ownership (Common Stock)
After a major purchase of 96 million shares in September 2025 and accounting for historical sales (including the ~$40 billion sold to fund the X/Twitter acquisition), Musk’s direct ownership has stabilized.
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Total Shares Owned: Approximately 507.5 million shares.
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Ownership Percentage: ~15.2% (based on ~3.33 billion shares outstanding).
2. The Restored Options (2018 Pay Package)
The headline news of December 2025 was the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision to restore Musk’s 2018 compensation package, which a lower court had previously voided.
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Options Restored: 303.9 million shares.
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Status: These are fully vested, as Tesla hit all 12 operational and market-cap milestones years ago.
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The Grand Total: If Musk were to exercise all his restored options today, his total holdings would climb to roughly 811.4 million shares, representing approximately 22.1% of an expanded share base.
Historical Context: Changes Since 2022
Musk’s stake in Tesla has undergone a "U-shaped" recovery over the last four years.
| Year | Event | Ownership Status |
| 2022 | Sold ~$23B in shares to fund X (Twitter). | Stake dipped to ~13%. |
| 2024 | 2018 Pay Package voided by Delaware Court. | Legal ownership in limbo; stake 12.4%. |
| 2025 | Shareholders approve new 2025 "Trillion-Dollar" Package. | Added future incentives for AI/Robotics. |
| Sept 2025 | Musk buys 96 million shares. | Stake rises to ~15.7%. |
| Dec 2025 | Delaware Supreme Court restores 2018 package. | Stake (with options) shoots toward 22%. |
Voting Power: The 25% Quest
Elon Musk has publicly stated he is "uncomfortable" growing Tesla to be a leader in AI and robotics without having ~25% voting control.
As of January 2026, he is closer than ever:
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Current Voting Power: ~15.2% (Direct shares only).
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Potential Voting Power: ~22% - 25%.
- This depends on how many of the 304 million restored options he exercises and the potential grants from the November 2025 "AI/Robotaxi" pay package, which is designed to push him over that 25% threshold as Tesla hits $2T and $3T valuation targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Musk receive a salary from Tesla in 2026?
No. Musk remains on a "performance-only" compensation structure. If the stock doesn't go up and the company doesn't grow, he doesn't get paid.
Why did his stake increase in 2025?
A combination of a large open-market purchase in September 2025 and the landmark legal victory in the Delaware Supreme Court that restored his "unfathomable" 2018 options.
What is the "2025 Package"?
Following the legal uncertainty of the 2018 deal, Tesla shareholders approved a new incentive plan in late 2025. This package focuses on FSD (Full Self-Driving), the Optimus robot program, and Robotaxi volume.
While Musk’s wealth is often a headline, for him, the shares are clearly about voting weight. As Tesla transitions from a car company to an AI powerhouse, 2026 marks the year he solidified his grip on the wheel.
