Tesla Board Warns Shareholders: Approve Musk’s Record Pay Deal—or Risk Losing Him

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Tesla’s board of directors has issued its starkest message yet to investors: approve CEO Elon Musk’s nearly $878 billion stock-based compensation package—or risk his departure and a potential collapse in Tesla’s market value. Shareholders are set to vote on Thursday in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential corporate pay decisions in history.

The proposal ties Musk’s potential payout to Tesla reaching an $8.5 trillion market capitalization over the next decade, a goal that would make him the first CEO in history to earn close to $1 trillion. Even if he falls short of some milestones, Musk would still collect tens of billions in stock awards.

Supporters argue that Musk’s leadership and vision justify the extraordinary package, crediting him with transforming Tesla into a $1.5 trillion company that dominates the electric vehicle sector and is pivoting toward artificial intelligence, robotaxis, and humanoid robots. “If the stock goes up sixfold, I’ll make a fortune too,” said investor Nancy Tengler. “Why should I care what Musk makes if he delivers?”

Critics, however, see the deal as a governance nightmare. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund have both announced they will vote against it, citing the concentration of power and shareholder dilution. Corporate governance expert Charles Elson said the board was being “held over a barrel by a superstar CEO.”

Board Chair Robyn Denholm has defended the deal, warning shareholders that without Musk, Tesla could “lose significant value.” Harvard professor Krishna Palepu argued that the proposal aligns Musk’s interests with shareholders, as he must achieve substantial growth before collecting the payout.

The outcome may hinge on Musk’s own 15% stake, which Texas law allows him to vote—unlike under Tesla’s prior Delaware incorporation. Critics say this, along with Texas’ new litigation rules that make it harder for investors to sue, stacks the deck in Musk’s favor.

“The board is facing a classic holdup,” said Cornell law professor Charles Whitehead. “They’ve bet the company on one man—and have no plan if he walks away.”

Quantum Computing Stocks Send Speculators on a Wild Ride as Hype Outpaces Reality

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Quantum computing stocks have become Wall Street’s latest obsession — and one of its most unpredictable playgrounds. Companies such as Rigetti Computing, IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. have seen their share prices surge by 100% or more this year as investors chase what some call “the next great technological revolution.”

These firms are racing to commercialize quantum computers — machines that exploit the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems far beyond the reach of today’s fastest supercomputers. The potential applications range from cryptography and logistics to drug discovery and financial modeling.

“It feels like science fiction has suddenly become a near-term reality,” said Sylvia Jablonski, CIO of Defiance ETFs, which runs the Defiance Quantum fund. Yet, analysts warn that enthusiasm may be running far ahead of fundamentals. Rigetti shares, for instance, have skyrocketed from just over $1 to as high as $58 this year, trading at more than 1,000 times the company’s sales.

“It’s a magic act,” said Christopher Poch of Promethium Advisors. “How else do you explain a company with a $13 billion valuation but only $22 million in forecast revenue?”

Despite the eye-popping numbers, most quantum firms remain unprofitable. Some, like Rigetti, have posted paper profits from changes in the value of securities, not from operations. Analysts say valuations in the “Quantum 4” — Rigetti, IonQ, D-Wave, and Quantum Computing Inc. — are now more art than science.

Still, optimism remains high. Major financial players such as JPMorgan Chase and HSBC have begun investing in quantum-based systems, and McKinsey projects the global quantum market could exceed $100 billion. But as Neuberger Berman’s Rick Bradt cautioned, “The promise is undeniable — but the timing remains deeply uncertain.”

Netflix Introduces Viewer-Based Metric as Ads Reach 190 Million Global Viewers

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Netflix announced on Wednesday that advertisements on its platform now reach more than 190 million monthly active viewers worldwide, as the company shifts to a new measurement system that counts individual viewers rather than subscriber accounts. The move underscores Netflix’s growing emphasis on advertising as a key revenue stream alongside its core subscription business.

The new metric, called Monthly Active Viewers (MAVs), counts anyone who watches at least one minute of ad-supported programming and adjusts for household size using Netflix’s internal data. The company said the change provides a “more comprehensive count” of how many people are actually viewing its content.

Netflix also reported significant progress in its advertising operations. Co-CEO Greg Peters said the company recorded its best-ever ad sales quarter in Q3 and remains on track to more than double its ad revenue this year. “We’ve established the fundamentals of the business and see a lot of room for growth,” Peters said.

As part of its advertising expansion, Netflix began testing dynamic ad insertion (DAI) during live-streamed WWE Raw and SmackDown events. The feature, which tailors ads in real time for each viewer, will be deployed in six countries — including the U.S., UK, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada — for the upcoming NFL Christmas Gameday, before rolling out to more live events in 2026.

The company’s in-house Netflix Ads Suite, launched earlier this year, is now available across all 12 markets offering ad-supported plans.