Elon Musk's Tesla compensation highlights growing wealth gap

A recent report highlights the widening gap between corporate executives and average workers. Elon Musk received a compensation package of $158.3 billion from Tesla in 2025, an amount more than 2.5 million times that of a median Tesla employee. The report notes that every 4.23 seconds, Musk earns an amount equivalent to a median Tesla employee's annual salary.

Excluding Musk, the average CEO compensation in 2025 rose to $22.8 million from $18.9 million in 2024. When including Musk's figures, the average at Tesla jumps to $340.1 million. The report also points to broader economic challenges in the United States, noting that the share of national income held by workers has fallen to its lowest level since World War II. Data shows 33% of U.S. adults lack retirement savings, and 37% cannot cover a $400 emergency expense.

In comparison, former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon earned approximately $27.5 million in his final fiscal year, which equates to earning more than the average U.S. annual salary of $62,088 in less than 20 hours.