My theory is that this is sort of a suicide pact where if Musk isn't there then maybe the market evaluates Tesla stock like any other stock and that would dramatically shift the valuation downward...
At the same time I'm not sure if that matters, how long is the market willing to treat Tesla stock as a sort of aspirational stock?
I think Tesla would be better off for the long-term if they cut Elon loose. Elon served his purpose and did a great job showing the value of EVs and that they didn't have to be econobox cars. Job well done! But as a mature company facing intense global competition, Tesla would benefit from someone at the helm knowing how to manage the storm and not engaging in political antics that are hurting the brand. Let Musk go.
Why not special voting shares or a re-structure like Alphabet/Meta have done to deliver additional votes or control? Seems like a cash grab and a bet against the US dollar. As long as Tesla continues to exist and inflation erodes enough value from the dollar Elon gets a regular infusion of additional stock to borrow against and the dollar value will just keep rising. As things get worse for the world at large they'll get better and better for Elon and only Elon.
Tesla shareholders get to lose twice, first to inflation just like the rest of us but also their share in Tesla will be regularly diluted specifically so Elon can keep borrowing on favorable terms.
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[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 25.8 ms ] threadAt the same time I'm not sure if that matters, how long is the market willing to treat Tesla stock as a sort of aspirational stock?
Not plausibly of course - can't imagine Musk getting on a call "yeah I would have kept leading Tesla but they wouldn't give me $1T".
$1T being literally more money than any person has ever had.
Tesla shareholders get to lose twice, first to inflation just like the rest of us but also their share in Tesla will be regularly diluted specifically so Elon can keep borrowing on favorable terms.
Fire Musk and Tesla gets valued for what they are, and stock will plummit.
Keep Musk and continue the downward trajectory where inevitably reality will catch up with the stock and it will plummit.
Short-term there's and argument for keeping Musk but long-term getting rid of him is likely better.
But there doesn't seem to be a way to avoid massive pain mid-term either way.