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Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Vaibhav Taneja of Tesla made news in 2024 when he received one of the largest remuneration packages in the company’s history, totalling an astounding 9 million (about ₹1,157 crore). With this sum, he surpasses well-known tech titans like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai. Since 2021, Taneja has also been a director of Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Limited, the company’s Indian subsidiary.
Massive Earnings Primarily from Equity Awards
How Satya Nadella’s Leadership Influences Compensation Trends
Taneja received a base salary of 0,000,000 (about ₹3.33 crore) in 2024, but the majority of his income came from performance-based equity awards that were based on the performance of Tesla’s stock. His pay skyrocketed once he was promoted in 2023, and as of May 19, 2025, Tesla’s stock had increased from about 0 (₹20,800) to 2 (₹28,400) per share. Despite Tesla’s current challenges, such as pressure on electric vehicle deliveries and profit margins, Taneja was rewarded with significant performance-based shares, indicating his crucial position in the company’s financial strategy.
Outearning Top Tech CEOs
By contrast: Microsoft’s Satya Nadella earned. Sundar Pichai (Alphabet) made one million and six hundred and fifty crore rupees. Taneja’s 9 million package, worth 73 million (₹89 crore), puts him far ahead of both in terms of total compensation. Surprisingly, his compensation also surpasses earlier CFO records. Just before the company’s insolvency in 2024, Nikola’s finance chief set a previous record of ₹715 crore in 2020, which he topped.
A Rise from Humble Beginnings to Corporate Elite
Vaibhav Taneja: From Graduate of Delhi University to Tesla’s Groundbreaking Chief Financial Officer With a fantastic journey from India to Silicon Valley, Vaibhav Taneja is 47 years old. A Delhi University commerce graduate and certified chartered accountant, he started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 1999 and worked there for 17 years in India and the US. Taneja joined SolarCity Corporation in 2016, which would eventually bring him to Tesla when the business was bought out soon after. He was instrumental in bringing the two companies’ financial systems into alignment, therefore his knowledge proved useful during the changeover..
Reflecting Tesla’s Aggressive Compensation Strategy
Tesla’s audacious strategy of rewarding its top executives, mostly through equity-based incentives linked to performance, is demonstrated by Vaibhav Taneja’s exceptional earnings.