Account Info
Log Out
English
Back
Log in to access Online Inquiry
Back to the Top

What is the real reason for Elon Musk to sell Tesla shares?

avatar
Smart Jerry wrote a column · Nov 8, 2021 02:21
Yesterday, Elon Musk asked Twitter users to decide whether he should sell more than $20bn worth of his Tesla shares and pay tax.
What is the real reason for Elon Musk to sell Tesla shares?
The Tesla CEO said he would "abide by the results of this poll, whichever way it goes".
And the final result is "Yes"
Twitter@elonmusk
Twitter@elonmusk
But wait, why did he want to sell Tesla shares
There are two obvious reasons
1. He needs money
Musk doesn't accept a cash salary from Tesla. His compensation package entitles him to stock awards.
Musk was awarded options in 2012 as part of a compensation plan. The 2012 award was for 22.8 million shares at a strike price of $6.24 per share. Tesla shares closed at $1,222.09 on Friday, meaning his gain on the shares totals just under $28 billion.
The options expire in August of next year. Yet in order to exercise them, Musk has to pay the income tax on the gain. The total tax bill on his options, at the current price, would be $15 billion.
Therefore, Musk has to sell Tesla shares to make money.
What is the real reason for Elon Musk to sell Tesla shares?
2. Tax rates may increase
If Musk were to sell stock, now could be a good time.
The current top tax rate on long-term capital gains is 23.8%, but Congress has been considering raising it. Changes in capital-gains tax rates often take effect immediately, to prevent gamesmanship.
Musk previously blasted a proposed tax on billionaires that would have subjected some holdings of about 700 Americans to annual capital-gains taxes on increases in value.
What is the real reason for Elon Musk to sell Tesla shares?
Will Tesla's share price fall?
- On the FTX crypto exchange Sunday afternoon, Tesla tokens have traded for $1,127, or 7.8% below where the real stock closed on Nov. 5.
ftx.com
ftx.com
- Musk's brother Kimbal Musk on Friday sold 88,500 Tesla shares, becoming the latest board member to offload a large number of Tesla stocks which hit record highs.
- Since CEOs have limited windows in which to sell stock, and Musk would likely want to stagger the sales over at least two quarters, analysts and tax experts have been expecting Musk to start selling in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Will Tesla's share price fall??
What is the real reason for Elon Musk to sell Tesla shares?
Disclaimer: Community is offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. and is for educational purposes only. Read more
1
2
4
1
2
41
+0
14
Translate
Report
54K Views
Comment
Sign in to post a comment

View more comments...