If you’ve spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) or scrolling through financial news lately, you know the drama surrounding Elon Musk and his Tesla holdings is basically a never-ending soap opera. One day he’s the world’s richest man by a landslide, and the next, a judge in Delaware is trying to claw back his pay. It's wild. But if you’re trying to pin down exactly what percentage does elon musk own of tesla right now in early 2026, the answer is a bit of a moving target.
Honestly, most people get this wrong because they look at old data from 2022 before he sold a massive chunk of shares to buy Twitter. Or they ignore the massive "2018 Pay Package" saga that just reached a fever pitch.
As of January 2026, the numbers are finally settling. Musk’s ownership stake is currently sitting at approximately 13% of Tesla’s outstanding common stock. This accounts for roughly 411 million shares.
However, that 13% is only the "base" level. If you factor in the recent legal victories regarding his compensation and his new 2025 performance awards, his potential control over the company is much, much higher.
The 13% Reality vs. The 25% Goal
For a long time, Elon was comfortably sitting on about 20% to 22% of the company. Then 2022 happened. To fund the $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, Musk went on a selling spree, offloading billions of dollars worth of TSLA stock. That’s what dragged his "official" ownership down to that 13% range.
But here is where it gets interesting.
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Musk isn't happy with 13%. He’s been very vocal about wanting around 25% voting power. Why? Because he’s terrified of being ousted by "random" activist investors or institutional groups before he can finish the AI and robotics transition. He basically said that without 25% control, he’d rather build AI products outside of Tesla.
That threat—or "incentive," depending on how you look at it—led to the massive shareholder vote in late 2025.
Breaking Down the Shareholder Vote of November 2025
In November 2025, Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly approved a new "2025 CEO Performance Award." This wasn't just a small bonus. It’s a plan designed to potentially make him the world’s first trillionaire.
- The New Shares: The plan grants him about 423 million new shares across 12 tranches.
- The Targets: These aren't easy. He has to hit a market cap of $2 trillion first, then scale all the way to a mind-blowing $8.5 trillion.
- The Result: If he hits every single one of those milestones, his ownership will climb back up and likely exceed 25%.
The Delaware Supreme Court Plot Twist
You might remember that a Delaware judge, Kathaleen McCormick, originally voided Musk’s 2018 pay package (the one worth about $56 billion at the time). She called it "unfathomable."
Well, the legal world was flipped upside down in December 2025.
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The Delaware Supreme Court actually reinstated that 2018 package. The justices basically argued that since shareholders voted for it (twice, including the re-ratification in 2024), it was inequitable to leave Musk uncompensated for six years of work that saw the stock price moon.
This reinstatement is huge for his ownership percentage. Those 2018 options are already "earned." By exercising them, he adds a massive buffer to his 13% stake, effectively keeping him as the undisputed heavyweight champion of Tesla shareholders.
Who Else Owns the Rest?
While Musk is the face of the company, he’s not the only one at the table. To understand the "what percentage does elon musk own of tesla" question fully, you have to see who he's competing with for votes.
- Vanguard Group: They usually hold around 7% to 8%. They are the "silent" giants.
- BlackRock: Typically own about 6%.
- State Street: Around 3.4%.
- Retail Investors: This is Tesla's secret weapon. "The Mission" has a cult-like following. Individual retail investors own nearly 40% of the company. This is why Musk usually wins shareholder votes; the "average Joe" investor almost always votes with Elon.
Why Does This Percentage Even Matter?
It’s not just about the money. For Musk, ownership equals autonomy.
Tesla is no longer just a car company. With the Cybercab rollout starting in 2026 and the Optimus robot reaching internal production milestones, Tesla is an AI powerhouse. Musk believes that if his ownership is too low, "institutional" investors who only care about short-term quarterly profits might stop him from taking the big, expensive risks necessary for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).
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If he stays at 13%, he can be outvoted by a coalition of Vanguard, BlackRock, and a few disgruntled pension funds. If he gets to 25%, he is effectively un-fireable.
What to Watch Next
The "actual" percentage will fluctuate through 2026 as he exercises options and as the company issues more shares for employees.
If you're an investor or just a fan of the drama, keep your eyes on the SEC Form 4 filings. These are the documents Musk has to file every time he buys or sells a single share. Also, watch the $2 trillion market cap milestone. Once Tesla crosses that line, the first "new" block of shares from the 2025 plan kicks in, and his percentage will start its climb back toward that 25% "safety zone" he craves.
Actionable Insights for Following Tesla Ownership:
- Monitor the 13G/A Filings: These are annual updates from major owners. Musk’s 2026 filing will give the most audited look at his exact share count.
- Check the Dilution: Remember that as Tesla gives shares to engineers, the total "pie" gets bigger, which slightly shrinks Elon's "slice" percentage-wise, even if he doesn't sell.
- Voting Records: Watch how the big funds (Vanguard/BlackRock) vote in the next annual meeting. If they start voting against board members, it means they are trying to check Musk's power, regardless of his percentage.