Tesla shareholders: Who owns the most TSLA stock?

Understanding who owns Tesla provides insight into the company’s governance structure and potential influence over strategic decisions.
By Dan Mitchell
Tesla logo atop of a Tesla Dealership illuminated at night.
Who owns the most TSLA stock? – Photo: JL IMAGES / Shutterstock.com

Below is an overview of Tesla’s shareholder base, covering both institutional investors and company insiders.

Tesla (TSLA) live stock price

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

What is Tesla?

Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla is now led by CEO Elon Musk and has become the world’s largest electric-vehicle manufacturer by market value. Headquartered in Austin, Texas since December 2021, the company designs, manufactures and sells electric cars, energy storage systems and solar products. Tesla went public on 29 June 2010 at $17 per share on the Nasdaq, trading under the ticker TSLA.

Ownership breakdown

As of mid-2025, Tesla had approximately 3.23bn shares outstanding. Ownership was divided as follows:

  • Institutional investors: 48.1%
  • Company insiders: 15.4%
  • General public and others: 36.3%

Institutional ownership indicates strong participation by large asset managers, while insider holdings help align management with shareholder interests.

(Simply Wall St, 2 October 2025)

Top institutional Tesla shareholders

The largest institutional holders of TSLA shares, as of 23 September 2025, are:

Investor Shares Held Stake (%)
Vanguard Group 251.4m 7.6%
BlackRock 206m 6.2%
State Street Corporation 113.4m 3.4%
Geode Capital Management 64.8m 2%
JPMorgan Chase & Co 46m 1.4%
Morgan Stanley 43.2m 1.3%
Capital World Investors 41.6m 1.3%
Norges Bank 37.3m 1.1%
Goldman Sachs 30.6m 0.9%
FMR (Fidelity) 29.9m 0.9%

(Yahoo Finance, 23 September 2025)

Top Tesla insiders

Insider holdings cover shares owned by directors, officers and significant shareholders. The largest individual insider is:

  • Elon Musk – CEO and founder: around 15.3% of shares outstanding

Together, insiders hold about 15.4% of Tesla’s stock, representing a substantial equity interest by management (Simply Wall St, 23 September 2025).

The bottom line

Knowing who owns the most TSLA shares can help assess corporate governance and potential voting outcomes at shareholder meetings. While institutional investors add market liquidity and can influence price movements, insider ownership – led by Elon Musk – represents a substantial stake but not majority control, aligning management with shareholder interests without conferring dominance.

This information is provided for general knowledge only. It should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

FAQ

How many Tesla shares are there?

Tesla has approximately 3.23bn shares outstanding (Yahoo Finance, 23 September 2025). This figure represents all shares issued and held by investors, including institutions, insiders, and the general public.

How many shareholders does Tesla have?

Tesla’s exact number of individual shareholders is not publicly disclosed. Filings show that hundreds of institutions hold shares on behalf of clients, while retail investors also account for a large share of ownership, creating a broad and diverse base.

Is Tesla a public stock?

Yes. Tesla listed on the Nasdaq on 29 June 2010 under the ticker TSLA. As a public company, its shares can be traded by individual and institutional investors worldwide.

What percentage of Tesla is held by institutional investors?

Institutions own about 48.1% of Tesla’s outstanding shares (Simply Wall St, 2 October 2025). Major holders include Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street, which manage these positions across mutual funds, ETFs and other portfolios.

Who is the largest Tesla shareholder?

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and founder, is the largest individual shareholder, holding around 15.3% of outstanding stock through direct and derivative ownership.

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