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LIST OF TESLA CEOS THROUGH TIME
| CEO | Years | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Eberhard | 2003–2007 | 4 yrs |
| Michael Marks | 2007 | ~3 months |
| Ze’ev Drori | 2007–2008 | ~1 yr |
| Elon Musk | 2008–present | nearly 18 yrs |
MARTIN EBERHARD (CO-FOUNDER OF TESLA)
In 2003, Martin Eberhard co-founded Tesla Motors with Marc Tarpenning, serving as the first automotive CEO of the company. Tesla’s founding is one chapter in a much longer automotive timeline stretching back to 1769.
Eberhard spearheaded Tesla’s founding mission to build electric sports cars using lithium-ion battery cells.
He oversaw the initial design and development of the Tesla Roadster, the company’s first production vehicle.
During Eberhard’s four-year tenure, Tesla raised venture funding, unveiled prototypes, and readied production of the Roadster—introducing the world’s first serial production highway-capable all-electric car.
However, Eberhard was asked to step down as CEO in 2007 due to rising tensions and disagreements with the board and Chairman Elon Musk.
The board was furious with all the delays, cost overruns, and leadership changes.
MICHAEL MARKS
In 2007, the board installed Michael Marks as Tesla’s interim Chief Executive Officer.
He was an industry veteran and private equity investor.
Marks was brought in on short notice. He was only expected to serve a few months.
As interim CEO, he focused his efforts on assessing the state of the Roadster’s engineering and production hurdles and to headhunt for a permanent CEO to take his place.
During his tenure, the company remained laser-focused on getting the Roadster across the finish line.
ZE’EV DRORI
In 2007, Ze’ev Drori was brought in by Tesla’s board of directors to become the new Chief Executive Officer and President.
Drori was tasked with getting Tesla’s delayed production of the Roadster back on track.
He focused Tesla more narrowly on meeting its goals before the company’s financial resources were exhausted.
This intense focus on execution came at the expense of Tesla’s engineering culture.
During his ~1-year tenure, Drori put Tesla on the path toward volume production.
With the Roadster nearing the start of production in 2008, Drori was soon replaced by Elon Musk.
ELON MUSK
Elon Musk has been the driving force behind Tesla since 2004, leading the company from its earliest days to its current status as the world’s most valuable automaker.
Musk joined Tesla’s founding team in 2004 as Chairman and lead investor.
He led Tesla’s $7.5 million Series A round, personally contributing about $6.5 million—the first of roughly $70 million he poured into the company through 2008.
Though not the founder, Musk played a powerful role in shaping Tesla’s visionary product strategy.
He assumed an increasingly hands-on product development and strategic leadership role in the company.
By 2008, Musk had become the CEO, where he still remains today.
For nearly two decades, Musk has become the face of Tesla, guiding the company with his signature ambitious optimism, relentless work ethic and commitment to innovation.
He has led Tesla the mainstreamization of electric vehicles and built a nationwide charging network.
Despite turbulence and missteps, Musk’s relentless leadership has firmly established Tesla as the highest-valued automaker in history.
HOW LONG HAS ELON MUSK BEEN TESLA’S CEO?
Elon Musk has been Tesla’s CEO for nearly 18 years—since October 2008, when he replaced Ze’ev Drori during the financial crisis. As of July 2026, he still holds the title (officially “Technoking of Tesla and CEO”), by far the longest run of Tesla’s four chief executives.
