The Pope Says He’s Concerned About How Much Money CEOs Like Elon Musk Make

Pope Leo XIV recently addressed the growing difference in income between everyday workers and the very rich, specifically mentioning Elon Musk and his recently approved, nearly $1 trillion compensation package. In an interview with Crux Now, the Pope stated that the widening gap between the earnings of working-class people and the wealth accumulated by the richest is a major concern today.

He explained that CEO compensation has dramatically increased over the past 60 years. While CEOs used to earn four to six times more than their workers, recent figures show they now earn around 600 times more.

I was really struck by something Pope Leo said recently. He mentioned Tesla offering Elon Musk potentially a trillion dollars – making him the first person to ever be publicly known as a trillionaire! The Pope seemed really concerned about what that says about our values, wondering if money is becoming the *only* thing that matters. It definitely made me think, too – it’s a little scary to consider a world where wealth is the only measure of worth.

Tesla’s directors have given the go-ahead to a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk. If Musk significantly increases Tesla’s revenue – from roughly $1 trillion to $8.5 trillion – and meets other company goals, he could receive around $975 billion. The full amount is tied to achieving specific performance targets.

Pope Leo XIV made history as the first Pope from the United States. He began his leadership in May, following the passing of Pope Francis in April. Pope Francis had often addressed the issue of growing wealth disparity and the increasing number of people struggling financially, famously stating in 2020, “The world is wealthy, but poverty is increasing all around us.”

According to Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, income inequality in the US is currently at its highest level in a century and is “completely out of control.” He recently told NPR that the concentration of wealth in the hands of individuals like Elon Musk has far-reaching and important consequences.

According to West, the United States is drifting away from a true democracy and towards an oligarchy, largely due to the increasing influence of billionaires in government and those with close ties to it. This wealth is shaping crucial policies like taxes, education, and healthcare, creating a real danger that the needs of ordinary Americans will be overlooked in favor of a select few.

Recent layoffs at Microsoft, including at Xbox, have sparked discussion about income inequality within the company. Reports show that CEO Satya Nadella earned $79.1 million last year, while the typical Microsoft employee earned $193,744.

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2025-09-15 22:39