Palo alto: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced his desire for a $1 trillion compensation package to maintain influence over the company's expanding artificial intelligence and robotics division, particularly focusing on the humanoid robot project, "Optimus." Musk discussed this during Tesla's third-quarter earnings call, emphasizing that the primary concern is not financial but about retaining substantial influence as Tesla progresses in developing what he termed a 'robot army.'

According to Anadolu Agency, the compensation plan, proposed by Tesla's board in September, outlines that Musk would receive 12 tranches of shares if Tesla meets specific performance benchmarks over a decade. This plan could see Musk obtaining more than 423 million additional shares, adding to his current ownership of about 13% of the company.

The proposed compensation has sparked criticism from unions and corporate governance groups, leading to the "Take Back Tesla" protest campaign. Critics are concerned about the magnitude of the package and its implications for corporate control and governance.

During the earnings call, Musk highlighted the transformative potential of robotics, suggesting that Tesla's innovations could eliminate poverty and provide universal access to top-tier medical care. He described the Optimus project as an "infinite money glitch" for the company, indicating significant future prospects.