Co-Founders Clash, Layoffs Loom, and Elon’s Million-Dollar Gamble

Tesla witnessed a shift in leadership in January 2008. Martin, the co-founder and former CEO, bid farewell to the company. Marc, CFO and Vice President of Electrical Engineering accompanied him on this departure. Shrouded in controversy, the former CEO’s exit sparked a legal battle as he filed a lawsuit alleging he was forced out.

Tesla’s CEO, Elon, shed approximately 10% of the company’s workforce following a performance evaluation. Fueled by his commitment, his investment in Tesla had soared to $70 million, prompting the automaker to streamline its operations and optimize its financial stability by reducing its burn rate.

Next: Tesla beat the deadline with a new model.