In a fascinating twist that might surprise many, Elon Musk—the world’s richest man known for Tesla, SpaceX, and his ventures beyond—has entrusted his financial empire and political ambitions to an Indian-origin executive. The person who took a somewhat less glamorous academic route than many might expect.
Meet Vaibhav Taneja, the man managing Musk’s money and earning a jaw-dropping Rs 1,157 crore. (That’s over a thousand crore rupees, folks!)
Vaibhav Taneja’s story is a classic example of how solid hard work and expertise can soar higher than brand-name degrees. After doing his BCom from Delhi University in 1999, he became a chartered accountant by 2000. Later, in 2006, he went to the US to earn a CPA qualification.
So, no IITs or IIMs here—just pure numbers and determination.
Starting nearly 17 years at PwC, he handled IPO filings and financial strategies for over 500 clients—a financial superhero in the making. In 2016, he joined SolarCity, the solar energy company that would later merge with Tesla.
Then, by 2017, Vaibhav was completely immersed in Tesla’s expansion, and he climbed rapidly and became the Chief Financial Officer of the company in 2023.
Now you may consider his $400,000 salary as HUGE, but there is more. Other than his base salary, Taneja also got stock options and equity awards that boosted his earnings in 2024 to around $139.5 million (around Rs 1,157 crore).
Talk about making numbers work for you!
Plus, Taneja serves as the Director of Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt. Ltd., playing a pivotal role in Tesla’s launch in India.
In a new twist, Musk has also roped him in as Treasurer and Custodian of Records for the recently launched America Party, Musk’s political outfit. Taneja now manages everything from donations to regulatory compliance for Musk’s political foray—proof that Musk trusts him not only with electric cars and solar energy but also with his political bucks.
So, the next time you think of making it big, remember Vaibhav Taneja: a Delhi University graduate who, without IIT or IIM tags, manages the money empire of none other than Elon Musk. If that’s not inspiring, what is?
