Finance

Tesla Shares Surge as Elon Musk Urges Employees to 'Hang On' Amid Stock Slide

2025-03-21

Author: Jessica Wong

Tesla Shares Surge as Elon Musk Urges Employees to 'Hang On' Amid Stock Slide

In a recent livestreamed all-hands meeting, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk addressed mounting concerns regarding his numerous roles outside of Tesla, reassuring employees to "hang on to your stock" as the company navigates a challenging few months. Following his comments, Tesla shares experienced a notable uptick, highlighting the influence Musk continues to wield over both employees and investors alike.

Musk's Busy Schedule: How Many Roles Can One Person Juggle?

“I have like 17 jobs at this point,” Musk said during the meeting, acknowledging the strain his various responsibilities place on him. Besides leading the electric vehicle giant Tesla, Musk holds several other significant positions, including:

- **CEO of SpaceX**, a pioneer in reusable rocket technology and space travel.

- **Founder of Neuralink**, a neurotechnology company developing brain–machine interfaces.

- **Chairman of X (formerly Twitter)**, a social media platform he's heavily restructured.

- **Owner of The Boring Company**, focused on tunnel construction and infrastructure.

Moreover, Musk is involved as a seemingly unofficial head of the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, a position aimed at streamlining government operations under the Trump administration. This dual role has sparked controversy and public backlash that may have negatively impacted Tesla's brand perception and sales figures.

Climbing Challenges and Market Reactions

Mizuho analysts recently reported that Tesla is experiencing "sales woes" primarily due to declining brand perception in both the United States and the European Union. This has prompted many Wall Street firms to downgrade their price targets for Tesla stock and revise their vehicle delivery forecasts for 2025. As a result, Tesla now finds itself at a crossroads, struggling to regain its footing in a competitive market.

Elon Musk's Wealth: A New Perspective?

As Tesla's largest shareholder, Musk has felt the financial sting more than anyone else, with his net worth dipping nearly $140 billion from its peak in December 2021. Despite this drop, Musk remains the wealthiest person on the planet with an estimated worth of $328 billion. Interestingly, for the first time since 2019, SpaceX has overtaken Tesla as the primary source of his wealth, illustrating a shift in his financial landscape.

As Tesla continues to face challenges, it remains to be seen how Musk will balance his many roles and their impact on the company's future. Investors and employees alike are hoping that his rallying cry, combined with a renewed focus on improving brand reputation, will steer Tesla back toward robust stock performance.

Stay tuned to see how this saga unfolds—will Musk manage to revive Tesla's fortunes, or will his busy schedule spell trouble for the carmaker?