Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made it unmistakably clear: he is not planning to step down anytime soon. In a candid and somewhat darkly humorous moment during the Qatar Economic Forum this week, Musk stated he intends to lead Tesla for at least the next five years—“unless I die.”

His quip drew laughter from the audience, but behind the humor lies a firm declaration of his long-term dedication to the company he founded and built into a global electric vehicle powerhouse.

The exchange took place during a pointed discussion with Bloomberg journalist Mishal Husain, who asked Musk if he was committed to remaining Tesla’s CEO over the coming years. Musk’s succinct answer was “Yes,” with the notable qualification: “Unless I die. Let me see if I’m dead.” That line, though levity-infused, underscored a deeper truth—Musk views his leadership role as inseparable from his identity and mission.

While much of the public and media focus centers on Tesla’s ambitious plans for autonomous cars and humanoid robots like Optimus, Musk made it clear that power and control remain central concerns. His continued leadership hinges not only on his willingness but also on securing majority voting control of Tesla to safeguard against activist investors or political forces that might try to unseat him.

“It’s not a money thing,” Musk explained. “It’s a reasonable control thing over the future of the company, especially for building millions, potentially billions of humanoid robots.” Musk’s insistence on control is framed less as a personal financial ambition and more as a safeguard to preserve Tesla’s visionary trajectory.

The CEO’s “robot clause,” as some analysts have dubbed it, reflects his intent to remain firmly in charge as Tesla evolves into a tech-driven company focused on artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous transportation. Musk sees this future as revolutionary, and losing control to activist investors or external pressures could, in his view, jeopardize that vision.

Despite Tesla’s recent struggles—including a notable sales slump and public controversies—Musk remains undeterred. He downplayed the significance of the sales downturn, asserting that the situation has already reversed in most major markets.

“It’s already turned around,” Musk said confidently. “Europe is our weakest market. We’re strong everywhere else. Our sales are doing well at this point and we don’t anticipate any meaningful sales shortfall.” He pointed to Tesla’s market valuation, which has rebounded above the trillion-dollar mark, as proof that investors share his optimism.

Acknowledging the polarized public perception of Tesla, Musk noted, “There are also people who are buying [our cars] because Elon’s crazy or however they may view it. So, yes, we’ve lost some sales perhaps on the left, but we’ve gained them on the right. The sales numbers at this point are strong and we see no problem with demand.”

However, publicly available data tells a somewhat different story. Tesla’s sales in its home market continued to decline during the first quarter of 2025, while the rest of the industry experienced double-digit growth. Yet, Tesla’s stock price has remained resilient, and Musk insists that the market’s faith in Tesla’s potential is what truly matters.

The undercurrent behind Tesla’s sales challenges lies in Musk’s controversial political involvement. Over the past years, Musk has become a polarizing figure due to his outspoken political views and activism. These stances have sometimes alienated segments of Tesla’s potential customers, contributing to vandalism at Tesla showrooms and threats against Musk personally.

When pressed by Husain on how politics have impacted Tesla and how he has handled public criticism, Musk was resolute: “I did what needed to be done.” He spoke of the violence inflicted on his companies and the threats against his life, questioning the motives of those behind such acts.

“I’m just—I’m not someone who’s ever committed violence. And yet massive violence was committed against my companies. Massive violence was threatened against me. Who are these people? Why would they do that? They’re on the wrong side of history, and that’s an evil thing to do, to go and damage some poor innocent person’s car. To threaten to kill me. What’s wrong with these people? I’ve not harmed anyone.”

Musk also indicated that he has “done enough” political spending for the foreseeable future, suggesting a potential retreat from the highly charged political arena. Still, he did not entirely close the door on future involvement.

Public perception, however, remains a challenge. Recent surveys show that nearly two-thirds of Americans say they would not buy a Tesla because of Musk’s political views and public persona. Whether Tesla can recover from this reputation hurdle while Musk remains at the helm is yet to be seen.

What is clear is Musk’s unwavering dedication to Tesla and his acceptance of whatever consequences come with it. He made no secret that if Tesla’s fortunes were to decline or the company were to face a downfall in the coming years, he would be there until the very end.

“If the ship goes down in the next five years, I’ll be right there with it,” Musk said with characteristic frankness.

In summary, Elon Musk’s declaration is more than a humorous aside—it is a stark reaffirmation of his lifelong commitment to Tesla. Despite the immense pressures from financial markets, political backlash, and operational challenges, Musk remains steadfast in his role as the company’s leader and visionary.

His desire for control, particularly in safeguarding Tesla’s bold AI and robotics ambitions, will likely shape the company’s future trajectory. For investors, employees, and the industry alike, Musk’s statement signals that Tesla’s fate is deeply entwined with the man who refuses to relinquish his seat at the wheel.

The next several years promise to be critical for Tesla as it navigates technological breakthroughs and market realities under Musk’s unyielding stewardship. Whether his determination will translate into sustained success remains a key question for the global electric vehicle market and beyond.