Elon Musk, currently the wealthiest individual globally, has formally realized gains from his 2018 compensation plan. According to a recent filing by Tesla with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk exercised all of his roughly 304 million stock options on June 16. This compensation package, often hailed as the "most substantial in history," has, after years of legal wrangling, now officially transitioned into the realization stage. Following the exercise of these options, Musk's voting influence within Tesla has surged to nearly 20%.

The exercise price stood at $23.34 per share. Given Tesla's closing share price of $404.66 on June 16, Musk's paper profit from this transaction amounts to an estimated $116 billion. After accounting for the costs associated with exercising the options, Musk was left with approximately 286 million restricted shares. These shares carry full voting rights, yet they are bound by restrictions that prohibit their sale or transfer prior to January 19, 2028.