Musk's DOGE gig for Trump bleeds him dry but Tesla offers opportunity to make money

Elon Musk acknowledged that his job as head of President Donald Trump’s effort to cut the size of government is “costing me a lot” when it comes to his other big job, as CEO of Tesla Inc.

Political backlash from Musk’s recent political forays in the US and around the world have weighed on Tesla at home and abroad. “It’s costing me a lot to be in this job,” Musk said at a town hall event in Wisconsin, noting some of his political opponents have highlighted the stock’s retreat.

“What they’re trying to do is put massive pressure on me, and Tesla I guess, to you know, I don’t know, stop doing this,” Musk said. “My Tesla stock and the stock of everyone who holds Tesla has gone, went roughly in half. I mean it’s a big deal.”

Tesla shares rose to a record high in the month after Trump was elected, but have dropped 45% since their Dec. 17 peak. While he remains the world’s richest man, Musk’s own personal wealth has declined by more than $100 billion this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

“Long term I think Tesla stock’s going to do fine, so maybe it’s a buying opportunity,” Musk said.

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Elon Musk gives away two $1 million checks to Wisconsin voters in high profile judicial race

Musk spoke in Wisconsin ahead of a state supreme court election April 1. Though the election is officially nonpartisan, Republicans including Trump have backed Brad Schimel, against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who has been endorsed by Democrats. Musk has thrown more than $14 million into the contest, on Schimel’s behalf, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper.

On stage, Musk handed out checks for $1 million to two local voters, and outlined how volunteers could get paid by a