[wirelessest]

But the cost to his ego for not meeting a milestone which receives even more publicity because of the big price tag is a big motivator (or at least one could argue)

So even if the utility of the funds isn't consequential, a package like this might be one if the few ways to further incentivize a CEO like Musk.

[IntronExon]

If he’s not incentivized by all of the high ideals he claims, plus $20 billion, then he’s broken.

[Roverlord]

Maybe some people are infinitely incentivizable, because they can always figure out a way to do something useful with the money.

Bill Gates for instance, although his model seems to be give it all away to good causes he believes can accomplish good. Elon still seems to believe more in his own capabilities to accomplish worthwhile things with it.

I expect he too has a little txt file somewhere on his desktop, with various amounts as milestones to unlock the next project.

Maybe at $22 billion he can afford to start asteroid mining and in orbit construction or something that would top his current accomplishments.

[IntronExon]

Asteroid mining and orbital construction would require trillions in investment, and years of focused work by a number of institutions. As far as I can tell, Musk uses that rhetoric for PR, and it works. So far an electric car company and rockets suited for LEO don’t add up to grand space adventures.