Market Mondays Ep. 282: Elon’s Trillion-Dollar Salary, New AI Chip War, Trading Secrets & China Tariff Deal?

Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Earn Your Leisure (EYL: Rashad & Troy), Ian Dunlap
Duration: ~2 hours

Episode Overview

This week on Market Mondays, the team dives deep into:

• Elon Musk’s proposed $1 trillion Tesla compensation and what it means for investors
• The ongoing AI chip war and what companies are winning or lagging
• Practical strategies for trading, managing options, and capitalizing on market cycles
• Global economic forces: China tariff uncertainty, rare earth minerals, and U.S. geopolitical moves
• Wealth preservation, pitfalls of sudden riches, and gambling’s rise in sports
  Backed by live questions and the signature straight-talk, the EYL crew delivers valuable insight for investors of all levels.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Remarks & Market Context (02:23 - 14:00)

• Market hitting new all-time highs; hosts acknowledge extreme weather events affecting the Caribbean and reflect on resilience (03:09).

• Emphasize value of education and networking at HBCUs, especially Howard University, for building sustainable success (11:03).

  “Howard University is just a special institution. They call it the Mecca for a reason. It’s not just about the education—it’s the networking, the camaraderie, and the alumni giving back.” – C [11:03]

• Community events, support, and giving back are recurring themes.

• Disclaimer: Always do your own research before investing (14:24).

ELON MUSK’S $1 TRILLION TESLA COMPENSATION PACKAGE (15:13 - 28:08)

The Proposal

• Elon Musk seeks shareholder approval for a $1 trillion compensation, contingent on Tesla’s market cap reaching $8.5 trillion (currently ~$1.4T) (16:13).

Is It Justified?

• The deal has precedent: Musk’s leadership is tied directly to Tesla’s value—without him, “Tesla essentially has no value” (19:27).

  “If we're being honest, Elon's a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Without him, Tesla essentially has no value.” – B [19:27]

• The plan includes tough performance benchmarks—he only gets paid if shares surge.

Can the Company Survive Without Him?

• Cites Steve Jobs’ ousting from Apple, noting how removing visionary founders is usually disastrous (20:03).

• Tesla’s business now focuses less on cars, more on autonomy and robotics.

• Panel debates “nobody is bigger than the program” philosophy—Tesla’s identity is uniquely tied to Musk (23:24–25:53).

  “If the company’s stock is only tied to one person, then it’s not a good company… Apple and Microsoft ran for years after their founders left.” – C [23:28]

Takeaway

• The hosts encourage Tesla investors to seriously consider their vote. Musk’s threat to leave is not an empty one, and investors must weigh the risk/reward (25:10).
• Analogy to hip hop: “I walk in Def Jam building, told 'em give me 1 trillion, I’m a quit.” (27:48)

Ian’s “2 Tech, 2 Index” Portfolio Strategy (28:21-34:12)

• Endorses hyper-concentration: Pick just 2 winning tech stocks (Apple, Microsoft) plus 2 diversified index funds (VOO, VTI) for long-term growth (28:41).
• “You only need four companies/assets to make you rich for a lifetime." – B [29:43]

Q: Should you wait for a big market crash before investing?
A: No. Most people ‘waiting’ will miss the biggest upside, and select companies will thrive even through downturns (29:54).

“When the move does come in 2027, should you have capital? Yes. Should you stop investing now? Absolutely not—could be the worst decision in your life.” – B [31:11]

AI Chip Wars: Who’s Winning? (38:13 - 48:37)

• Chip stocks (Nvidia, AMD, Micron, TSM) are “all-stars” in 2025; some returns exceed 600% on options.

• Trading story: Troy’s disciplined scaling out of Micron options, reinvesting profits, and rolling positions (44:04–47:26).

  "What's your plan? Mine is: at 100% profit, take out your principal and let the rest ride. If you have two contracts, sell one, get your money out, let the other run." – A [44:16]

• Community benefit: EYL University gives members direct access to trades and research—importance of information flow and execution.

Access, Intel & the Power of Information (51:22 - 54:09)

• Access to industry insiders (e.g., Mike Novogratz, billionaires) is key; they take the long view and have strong conviction in assets like gold and Bitcoin.
• “Access to information is vitally important, and it’s rare. Sometimes you just gotta listen—don’t let your pride keep you from learning.” – C [52:41]

Amazon’s Historic Layoffs and Efficiency Play (62:59 - 68:37)

• Amazon to lay off up to 30,000 workers—largest in its history.

• Not just about cutting: they’re also avoiding hiring 180,000 by 2027 via automation—signals major shift for entire tech sector (63:27).

• Layoffs signal both efficiency and possible softness in growth.

• Key Metrics to Watch: AWS, Advertising, International E-commerce (65:05).

  "Amazon’s always had a margin issue…for a company that big, 10.5% profit margin is historically low. Now, it’s about getting those human capital costs off the balance sheet.” – B [67:18]

China Tariff Deal: Real or Just Market Optics? (70:04 - 74:02)

• Despite headlines, tariff talk and trade brinksmanship have had little lasting market impact.

• U.S. and China expected to ‘figure it out’—market permanently rewarded for business as usual, despite fear mongering in press releases.

  “The market is permanently rigged to stay up. Most of these geopolitical headwinds are just blips.” – B [71:54]

Trading, Technical vs. Fundamental Analysis (74:32 - 78:38)

• Successful investors blend both: “fundamentals are just technicals presented on a screen.” (74:41)
• 72/210/420 EMA: Ian’s technical analysis indicators for trend following and risk control (77:07).
• Weed/meme stocks are out: Professional investors now get “sensational gains in safe companies.”

Qualcomm: Too Late to the AI Party? (79:17 - 84:41)

• Qualcomm’s new GPU products are late compared to Nvidia/AMD/TSM. Announcements are years out; infrastructure already locked (80:04–83:01).
• “If Qualcomm’s new chip is comparable to Nvidia’s two-year-old Hopper, they’re already behind.” – A [84:18]

Rare Earth Minerals: Real Opportunity or FOMO? (85:02 - 88:14)

• China controls 70% of global supply; stocks like USAR spiked on headlines, but hosts are cautious.
• “If you weren’t interested in the sector before AI, are you really a long-term investor or just chasing hype?” – B [86:38]
• They prefer broader tech/semiconductor/energy plays for enduring value.

Geopolitics: Oil, Venezuela, and U.S. Maneuvering (88:14 - 92:13)

• Venezuela holds the largest oil reserves, surpassing Saudi Arabia (88:28).

• U.S. is increasing pressure and influence in Latin America; hosts warn major events may be coming soon (90:36–91:19).

  "That's the new overarching theme—America's going to bring democracy to South America." – C [91:11]

Upcoming Earnings to Watch (92:28 - 97:03)

• Tech Giants: Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon—all reporting, setting the tone for Q4.
• Other Key Names: Caterpillar, Visa, Chipotle, Starbucks, Coinbase, Cloudflare, Exxon, Chevron.
• Visa singled out for sheer dominance: “74% of all debit purchases go through Visa. It's a legal monopoly with a tech stack.” – B [95:36]

Wealth Preservation, the Dangers of Gambling, & Protecting Yourself (100:31 - 114:32)

The Sports Gambling Dilemma

• Gambling is now “fully integrated into every major sports league”—risky for sports and the wealth of athletes (100:31).

  "Gambling's a lose-lose game. Even if you win, it puts you in danger; if you lose, it puts you in danger—especially in illegal gambling.” – C [104:44]

• Discussion on how sudden money creates new risks—swindlers, legal traps, relationships, and more.

The Wealth Preservation Playbook

• “Once you get money, everyone tries to take it from you. Swindlers, lawyers, groupies, even some advisors you trust...” – C [109:50]
• Importance of discipline, saying no, staying sober, and protecting assets at every turn—“It’s about having morals, being smart, and knowing how to keep your circle tight.” – B [114:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Elon’s Leverage: “This is like Jordan with the Bulls—you want to be so valuable that if you do leave, the value is with you.” – B [25:10]
• On Cat (Caterpillar): “Everybody thinks it’s bulldozers and cranes…but they’re powering the data center revolution.” – A [57:33]
• Program > Person: “You’re not bigger than the CCP program—you act tough ‘til you meet a demon.” – B [73:38]
• On Wealth: “Building wealth is important, but keeping it is more important. Once you get money, it’s like the clock starts for everyone to take it from you.” – B [109:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Tesla Salary: 15:13 – 28:08
• AI Chip War & Option Trading Secrets: 38:13 – 48:37
• Rare Earth Minerals & Energy Security: 85:02 – 88:14
• Amazon Layoffs/Efficiency: 62:59 – 68:37
• China Tariff Deal/Geopolitics: 70:04 – 74:02; continued at 88:14 – 92:13
• Technical vs. Fundamental Analysis: 74:32 – 78:38
• Wealth Preservation/Gambling: 100:31 – 114:32
• Upcoming Earnings Preview: 92:28 – 97:03

Conclusion

This episode vividly blends hard investment analysis with real talk about risk, psychology, and macro trends. Whether debating Elon Musk’s “bet on himself,” dissecting winning trades in the chip space, or warning about the hidden threats on the road to wealth, the EYL crew delivers actionable advice with community in mind.

Final theme:
Invest for the long-term. Stay disciplined. Protect your money—and your mind. In the new era, access and information are everything.