✅ Confirmed
Elon Musk
Noticia
Elon Musk increases Tesla stake just before SpaceX IPO completion
Elon Musk exercised options on 303,960,630 Tesla shares from his 2018 compensation package at a split-adjusted strike price of $23.34 per share, while Tesla closed at $404.66 on June 16, 2026. This generated roughly $115.9 billion in paper gains without Musk paying out of pocket, as Tesla withheld 17,531,857 shares to cover the exercise cost. The transaction occurred shortly after SpaceX completed its IPO, providing SpaceX with tradable shares that facilitate a potential merger between the two companies. Musk's direct Tesla stake increased to about 20%, enhancing his influence over shareholder
- Musk exercised 303,960,630 Tesla options at $23.34 per share
- $115.9 billion paper gain in a single transaction
- Tesla withheld 17,531,857 shares to cover exercise cost
🔎 Why it matters: Musk's 2018 option package was exercised right after SpaceX's IPO, enabling a potential merger with tradable shares and increasing Musk's influence in Tesla.
📈 Upside: Musk boosts Tesla voting power to 20%, strengthening control for a possible merger.
📉 Risk: Restricted shares cannot be sold until 2033, limiting short-term financial flexibility.
🤖 Automated analysis and summary. Every story links its original source for verification.