Lisa Kennedy Salary and Total Compensation at Tesla
Lisa Kennedy's annual cash salary as a director of Tesla is reported at $0, consistent with most independent directors at the company, with her total compensation driven primarily by equity awards and deferred compensation plans. Her most recent compensation disclosure shows a mix of stock options, restricted stock units, and performance-based awards tied to Tesla's market capitalization and operational targets as detailed in Tesla's DEF14A proxy filings.
In the latest proxy statement, her total reported compensation for the most recent fiscal year was in the mid-six-figure range, reflecting the value of equity grants vested and outstanding rather than a traditional cash salary. This structure aligns her interests with long-term shareholder value, and her compensation is benchmarked against peer board members at other large-cap technology and automotive companies per Forbes analysis of Tesla board pay.
Career Background and Board Role
Lisa Kennedy is a former senior executive at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where she served as Director of the Division of Trading and Markets, giving her deep regulatory expertise that informs her oversight of Tesla's financial reporting and governance practices. Her appointment to the Tesla board leverages this background, and her compensation package reflects the specialized expertise required for a director with her regulatory and financial market experience.
On the board, she serves on committees related to audit and compensation, roles that are standard for independent directors with her profile. Her salary and equity awards are reviewed annually by the compensation committee, with changes tied to board tenure, company performance, and peer benchmarking via Tesla's SEC filings.
Comparison With Other Tesla Board Members
Lisa Kennedy's compensation is broadly in line with other independent directors at Tesla, with most board members receiving no base salary and relying on equity and deferred compensation. The board's pay structure is designed to attract experienced independent directors while maintaining alignment with shareholder interests, and Kennedy's package reflects this approach as reported by Forbes.
Compared to executive officers, her total compensation is modest, but it is competitive for a board role at a company of Tesla's size and market profile. The board's compensation philosophy emphasizes long-term equity incentives over cash pay, and Kennedy's awards reflect this focus, with significant portions deferred or subject to multi-year vesting schedules per the latest DEF14A filing.