Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja set a new compensation record in 2024, with a $139 million package—surpassing tech titans like Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai.
New Delhi, May 21, 2025 – Indian-origin executive Vaibhav Taneja, Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, earned a staggering $139 million (approx. ₹1,157 crore) in total compensation in 2024, making him one of the highest-paid CFOs in corporate history.
The bulk of Taneja’s earnings stemmed from stock options and equity awards, significantly boosted by Tesla’s soaring stock price since his promotion to CFO in August 2023. Despite challenges in the EV market, Tesla’s share value surged from $250 (₹20,800) at the time of his award to $342 (₹28,400) by May 19, 2025.
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While Taneja’s base salary was $400,000 (₹3.33 crore), his overall package outpaced that of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ($79.1 million or ₹658 crore) and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai ($10.73 million or ₹89 crore). His payout surpassed the previous CFO compensation record of $86 million (₹715 crore) set in 2020 by Nikola’s then-CFO.
Who Is Vaibhav Taneja?
- Educational Background:
Taneja is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Delhi. - Career Timeline:
He began his professional journey at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he worked across India and the U.S. from 1999 to 2016.
In March 2016, he joined SolarCity Corporation, serving as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Following Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity that same year, Taneja played a key role in integrating the financial teams of both companies.
He joined Tesla in 2017 as Assistant Corporate Controller, became Corporate Controller in 2018, and was named Chief Accounting Officer in 2019. - Tesla India Connection:
In 2021, he was appointed Director of Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt. Ltd., overseeing the company’s strategic operations in India. - Current Role:
In August 2023, Vaibhav Taneja was promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tesla, a move that has now resulted in one of the most lucrative executive payouts globally.
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Vaibhav Taneja, Tesla CFO, Indian-Origin Executives, Highest Paid CFO, Tesla India, Tesla Stock Surge, Elon Musk, EV Market, Tesla News 2025, Executive Compensation