Whaaat? How Appalling!

Whaaat? How Appalling!

I don’t get upset too often. Usually, I’m pretty calm about things. But when I heard the news about CEO Elon Musk’s compensation package, I lost my cool—for multiple reasons.

First off, nobody needs $56 billion in compensation for one year, let alone a lifetime. It’s an obscene amount for anyone—especially at a time when so many around the world are struggling just to make ends meet.

What makes it even more obscene is that earlier this year, Tesla laid off 14,000 workers … to cut costs. These were the people who did much of the labor that led to the company’s success.

Suddenly, they were jobless, perhaps applying for government assistance, lacking health insurance and certainly concerned about supporting themselves and their family.


Here are some eye-opening statistics:

  • Economic Policy Institute: In 1965, CEOs typically earned 21 times the base rate of their lowest paid employee. Today, they’re paid 344 times what the typical worker makes.
  • Patriotic Millionaires: The median pay package for a CEO from the 500 largest companies increased by 12.6% to $16.3 million in 2023. Private sector workers saw their median pay increase by just 4.1%.
  • Americans for Tax Fairness: 50 billionaire clans have already spent over $600 million on the 2024 elections, mostly to preserve their fortunes.


This does not bode well for democracy. Wealthy families can have undue influence on elections and the legislation that’s passed.

Plus, it’s downright greedy. Nobody needs that much money. And to think that the pursuit of even more is glorified.

Why don’t they just lower prices, increase their people’s salaries and pay more in taxes to support the greater good.

Generosity is the antidote to greed. We need more of that.

??Brian Keltner??

Strategic Fractional CMO | Reputation Management Specialist | Driving Business Growth Through Marketing Leadership & Brand Strategy | Expert in Customer Acquisition & Digital Presence Optimization | Gunslinger

8 个月

Jill, thanks for sharing!

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Kenneth Gustin

In the end your life is not about you. - Dir. Mission Advancement & Communications - Holy Union Sisters / Fund Raising / Social Media /Content Creation / Podcasting / Database Management / Donor Relations / Messaging

8 个月

Jill, Will you run for President? You repeatedly diagnose the problems we are all plagued by and propose common sense solutions. No BS.

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Rene Zamora

Small Business Fractional Sales Management. Coaching Strategies to manage and increase performance. Sales Audits | Hiring | Planning | Implementation | Compensation | Incentive Plans | Team Evaluation and Expectations

9 个月

Well - that was a different tone from this newsletter...:) Thanks for sharing your mind and spirit, Jill. I hear a lot in here. One generosity is better than greed, I agree, and since it comes from within someone, each person must find generosity, not be made to be generous (not saying you said that). Is Elon greedy? I'd have to meet the man to understand his motives. Some misjudged me from a distance, and it's easy to do. 54b is too much for one man's salary. Of course it sounds huge, but I'm not sure. I'm a bible reader, and God has used the rich and poor for his purpose. From that perspective, only God knows for sure. Should employees be laid off without cause? I'd prefer they were not, but when I was an employee, it was what I agreed to when I joined. Money does influence our elections, good money, and bad money if you want to call it that. Is the problem the amount someone has or the limits we allow to influence politicians and elections in our country? I tend to think it's the latter. Writing this was a stretch for me; I hope it supports conversation that leads to positive change in some manner and not polarization. Regards to all..Rene

Christian Maurer

Sales Leadership Methodologist -- measurably increasing the productivity of B2B sales organizations with system thinking

9 个月

What are the drivers for these perversities? Greed, Ignorance, Arrogance.... What have I forgotten?

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Tracy Y Washington

I don’t teach leadership. I teach how to make leadership work. ???

9 个月

He earned it. He did what he said he would.

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