Vaibhav Taneja net worth: Check out how much the Tesla CFO earns
Indian-origin executive Vaibhav Taneja, Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has made global headlines by earning a jaw-dropping $139.5 million in total compensation for 2024, making him the highest-paid CFO in the world.The bulk of this income stems not from his base salary of $400,000, but from stock options and equity awards granted after his promotion to CFO in August 2023. His compensation package surpassed even the earnings of top tech CEOs like Satya Nadella of Microsoft and Sundar Pichai of Google.
From Delhi University to the pinnacle of Tesla
Vaibhav Taneja’s success story began in New Delhi, India, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University in 1999. A year later, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Determined to expand his global footprint, Taneja became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the United States in 2006.He then spent nearly 17 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), gaining extensive experience in assurance services across both India and the U.S., eventually serving as a Senior Manager. In 2016, he took a pivotal leap by joining SolarCity, a solar energy firm that would soon be acquired by Tesla.
Taneja’s rise at Tesla
Following Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity in 2017, Taneja joined the electric vehicle giant as an Assistant Corporate Controller. His rise through the ranks was rapid and well-earned. He became Corporate Controller in 2018, was appointed Chief Accounting Officer in 2019, and ultimately took over as Chief Financial Officer in August 2023, succeeding Zach Kirkhorn.Taneja is not only influential at Tesla’s global headquarters—he also plays a crucial role in the company’s Indian operations, serving as a director at Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Limited, where he contributes to shaping the brand’s entry and expansion strategy in India.
How he earned a record-breaking $139.5 million
The headline-making $139.5 million compensation package awarded to Taneja is largely stock-based and set to vest over a four-year period. At the time of the award, Tesla’s stock was trading around $250. By May 2025, share prices had climbed to $342, significantly increasing the value of his equity holdings.His total 2024 earnings exceeded Satya Nadella’s $79.1 million and Sundar Pichai’s $10.7 million, while also shattering the previous CFO pay record of $86 million set by Nikola’s CFO in 2020. With this package, Taneja has firmly established himself in a rare class of ultra-high-paid corporate leaders.
Vaibhav Taneja’s net worth
As of May 2025, Vaibhav Taneja’s estimated net worth stands at a minimum of $74.9 million, as per various sources. He currently holds 26,949 shares of Tesla (TSLA) stock and has sold approximately 156,709 shares since 2021, which brought in an estimated $65.6 million in proceeds.