Who Owns Tesla? Check Shareholders, Elon Musk Shares and Other Key Facts

Jul 8, 2025, 04:03 EDT

Who Owns Tesla? Tesla's ownership is distributed amongst various shareholders as it is a publicly traded corporation. Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and the largest individual stakeholder, although institutional investors and other individuals own significant amounts of Tesla stock. This structure establishes who owns it. Read on to know more about who owns Tesla.

Elon Musk is the largest individual stockholder owning 13.04% of the Tesla stocks.
Elon Musk is the largest individual stockholder owning 13.04% of the Tesla stocks.

Tesla is an American global automotive and clean energy corporation. According to CompaniesMarketCap.com, Tesla has a market capitalisation of $946.76 billion, making it the eleventh most valuable company in the world. In June 2010, one share of Tesla stock was traded at $17; a decade later, the stock was trading around $1,000 – a gain of more than 5,700%. Although Tesla is a publicly traded company, it has many prominent shareholders who collectively own its stock, including institutional investors and its CEO, Elon Musk, who is the largest individual shareholder. But how is Tesla’s ownership divided—and who holds the most influence over the company today?

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Who Owns Tesla?

Tesla is a publicly traded corporation that is denoted by the ticker TSLA on the NASDAQ stock exchange. This indicates that millions of people and organisations own shares of Tesla stock, distributing ownership.  No one person or organisation is the sole owner. In general, the ownership can be divided into:

  1. Total Shares of Tesla Stock: Tesla has over 3.16 billion shares outstanding (as of recent data).

  2. Main Shareholder Groups:

  • Retail Investors: Millions of individual stakeholders own the largest portion, around 43% shares of Tesla through their brokerage accounts.

  • Institutional Investors: These include large firms like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street. Large investment firms, mutual funds, pension funds, and asset managers (like Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street) own about 42.8% of Tesla's shares. They typically hold the largest collective percentage of shares.

  • Company Executives/Insiders: Hold about 14% of the stock.

  1. Elon Musk's Stake: Elon Musk is the single largest individual shareholder, owning about 13.04% of Tesla's stock (around 412.6 million shares). 

Therefore, while Elon Musk is the visionary leader and largest individual investor, the ultimate Tesla owner is its collective body of shareholders.

When was Tesla founded?

Tesla was founded on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. They initially envisioned a company that would build electric cars with high performance and style. Elon Musk joined the company's board of directors in 2004, becoming its chairman and later taking on the role of CEO. While Eberhard and Tarpenning were the founders, Musk's significant early investment and subsequent leadership were pivotal in shaping Tesla into the global force it is today, often leading to him being widely associated with the company's origins and success.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of who owns Tesla is answered by its status as a publicly traded company. While CEO Elon Musk holds a substantial amount of Tesla stock and wields considerable influence, the company's ownership is distributed among a vast array of institutional and individual investors. This structure allows the company to raise capital from the public while maintaining a dynamic leadership focused on its mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.

Alisha Louis
Alisha Louis

Content Writer

    Alisha Louis is a US Content Specialist with a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) graduate degree. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she specializes in covering trending news and educational developments across the United States. Her work combines journalistic precision with engaging narratives, making complex topics accessible and relevant for a diverse audience. Dedicated to delivering timely and trustworthy content, Alisha brings a fresh, insightful perspective to every piece she writes.

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    FAQs

    • What percentage of Tesla's shares do different groups own?
      +
      As of recent data, retail investors hold about 43% of shares, institutional investors hold around 42.8%, and company executives (insiders) hold approximately 14%, with Elon Musk owning about 13.04% individually.
    • When was Tesla originally founded, and by whom?
      +
      Tesla was founded on July 1, 2003, by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Elon Musk joined as a key investor and chairman in 2004, later becoming CEO.
    • Who truly owns Tesla?
      +
      Tesla is a publicly traded company owned by millions of shareholders. While Elon Musk is the largest individual shareholder and CEO, ownership is distributed among retail investors, institutional investors, and company executives.

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