Tesla’s numbers are usually discussed in miles per charge or market value. This time, the conversation is about taxes, pay, and a comparison designed to make people stop scrolling.
Earlier this month on Facebook, former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote, “Tesla reported paying ZERO federal income tax in 2025.”
He followed with the comparison that drove the post’s attention: “Meanwhile, thanks to his new Tesla pay package, Elon Musk could stand to make $3 billion more per year than all 1.4 million elementary school teachers in the U.S. combined.” Reich ended the post with a question to readers: “See the problem here?”
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In the comments section, Reich linked to an analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which said Tesla reported roughly $5.7 billion in U.S. pretax income while reporting no current federal income tax owed for 2025. The outcome stems from legal provisions within the tax code, including research and development credits, accelerated depreciation, stock option deductions and losses carried forward from earlier years when the company was not profitable.
Tesla’s filings show the company paid taxes globally. The zero figure refers specifically to current federal income tax liability in the U.S. Supporters point to the incentives as intentional features meant to encourage investment and innovation. Critics argue the result exposes how profitable companies can legally reduce federal tax bills to little or nothing.
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The second half of Reich’s argument centers on Musk’s compensation structure. Tesla shareholders approved a performance based pay package that awards stock only if aggressive company targets are achieved. Musk receives no base salary, and the value depends entirely on Tesla’s long term growth and stock performance.
If the milestones were fully met and the package reached its projected upper range, the value could average close to $100 billion per year over a decade. That estimate forms the basis for Reich’s statement that Musk could earn billions more annually than the combined salaries of elementary school teachers.
Federal labor data shows about 1.4 million elementary school teachers nationwide, excluding kindergarten and special education categories. Average annual pay sits near $70,000 based on recent Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multiplied across that workforce, combined salaries land just under $100 billion per year, which is how Reich’s comparison reaches a gap measured in billions depending on assumptions used.
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The comparison comes with limits. Musk’s compensation is not guaranteed income and depends entirely on future performance targets. Teacher salary totals also exclude benefits such as pensions and health coverage, which increase total compensation beyond wage figures alone.
Although Tesla’s tax position and Musk’s compensation package are shaped by corporate policy, shareholder decisions and existing tax law, Reich’s comparison focuses on how those outcomes appear when placed next to everyday earnings like teacher salaries.
For most readers, the contrast highlights a broader reality that large economic decisions often sit outside individual control. Personal financial choices, however, remain within it, which is why conversations about planning, saving and long-term goals often move back to individual strategy, sometimes with guidance from a financial advisor.
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This article Tesla Paid No Federal Income Tax While Elon Musk Could Earn $3 Billion More Than U.S. Teachers Combined, Says Robert Reich —’See the Problem?’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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