 "Vaibhav Taneja, the Indian-origin executive and Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, has been listed as both the Treasurer and Custodian of Records for the Musk's new America Party. Image courtesy: LinkedIn/@VaibhavTaneja")
Indian-origin executive Vaibhav Taneja, who currently serves as Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, has found himself at the heart of Elon Musk’s latest political venture, the newly launched America Party (AMEP).
According to official documents filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Taneja has been listed as both the Treasurer and Custodian of Records for the party. Taneja took over as Tesla’s CFO in August 2023 and has since been a key figure in Musk’s leadership team.
The development comes amid rising buzz about Musk’s growing ambitions in politics. On Saturday, the billionaire took to his platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce the launch of a new political party, saying it was meant to “give Americans their freedom back” and push back against what he called a “one-party system” in the country.
So, who exactly is Vaibhav Taneja, and what does his role mean for the future of Musk’s new party? Here’s a closer look.
Who is Vaibhav Taneja?
Vaibhav Taneja was born and raised in India. He completed his commerce degree from Delhi University, went on to become a Chartered Accountant in 2000, and later earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential in 2006.
He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he worked for 17 years across offices in India and the US, advising Fortune 500 clients on financial controls and IPO preparation.
In 2016, Taneja joined SolarCity, the solar energy company founded by Elon Musk’s cousins. After Tesla acquired SolarCity later that year, he transitioned to Tesla.
By 2017, he was appointed Corporate Controller at Tesla. His rise was quick, he became Chief Accounting Officer in 2019 and took over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in August 2023 after the departure of Zach Kirkhorn.
Now 47, Taneja oversees Tesla’s global financial operations and has been a key player in the company’s India strategy. In January 2021, he was appointed as the director of Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd, the company’s Indian subsidiary.
Earlier this year, Taneja’s lucrative paycheck made headlines. According to The Washington Post, he earned a staggering $139 million in 2024, including stock options and equity awards, placing him ahead of tech heavyweights like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Google’s Sundar Pichai in total earnings.
What will be Taneja’s role in Musk’s America Party?
With more than two decades of experience in finance, accounting, and global leadership, Vaibhav Taneja has long been seen as one of Elon Musk ’s most trusted lieutenants. Now, his influence appears to be expanding into the political space as well.
According to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), now widely shared on social media, the America Party lists its headquarters at 1 Rocket Road, Hawthorne. The filing names Musk as the party’s sole candidate, while Taneja is listed as both the Treasurer and Custodian of Records, with a Texas-based address linked to him.
In his role as treasurer, Taneja will be in charge of managing the party’s finances, including accepting political contributions, ensuring compliance with campaign finance laws, handling regulatory filings, and maintaining accurate financial records.
He will be responsible for keeping detailed documentation of every financial transaction the party makes, from contributions and loans to expenditures and debts.
Musk had hinted at this political move back on July 1, shortly after Trump’s ‘ Big, Beautiful Bill ’, a controversial tax and spending bill, was passed in the Senate.
Posting on X, he wrote: “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”
Though once aligned with Donald Trump , even heading Trump’s short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and donating significantly to his 2024 campaign, Musk has since distanced himself, publicly criticising the spending bill.
The fallout has reportedly led to rising tensions between the two, with Trump warning that the government might “reconsider” its contracts with Musk’s companies.
Meanwhile, Trump was quick to mock the new party during a press interaction on Sunday. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party,” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey. “Starting a third party just adds to confusion. He can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
Taneja’s appointment is perhaps the clearest sign yet that Musk plans to run this new political outfit much like his companies, keeping control within a small, loyal group of trusted executives.
With input from agencies