Elon Musk could leave Tesla as CEO if his proposed $1 trillion pay package is not approved, Board Chair Robyn Denholm has warned.

The appeal was sent in a letter to shareholders of the electric car company on Monday. It comes ahead of Tesla’s November 6 annual meeting, when shareholders are expected to vote on the proposed pay package, the largest of its kind.

Tesla’s board has faced repeated criticism for not acting in shareholders’ best interests, and governance experts and advocacy groups have questioned its independence and oversight of Musk’s influence.

The proposed performance-based plan was designed to retain and motivate Musk to continue leading Tesla for at least another seven and a half years, Denholm said in the letter.

Musk’s leadership is “critical” to Tesla’s success, s

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