New details have emerged surrounding the recruiting package used to bring former Tesla executive Sterling Anderson to GM.
According to reports from Detroit Newsciting recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, the automaker offered Anderson a total compensation package worth $40 million to join the company as executive vice president of global product and chief product officer last year. Of this amount, $16 million was paid in calendar year 2025, while the remaining $24 million will be paid in 2026 and 2027.
Sterling Anderson
Before joining GM, Anderson co-founded Aurora Innovation, a driverless truck company. Before Aurora, Anderson worked at Tesla, with a resume that includes development of the all-electric Model X SUV and the company’s self-driving Autopilot technology.
The compensation structure includes a combination of incentives designed to retain Anderson through 2027, such as additional earnings opportunities with cash bonuses and performance-based stock awards tied to specific company goals. GM stated that this compensation was offered to attract experienced leadership while remaining competitive with compensation levels commonly found in the technology sector.
Maria Barra
In the same filing, GM outlined compensation for other top executives, including CEO Mary Barra. Barra reportedly earned $29,895,868 in 2025, a 1.3 percent increase over the previous year. His total compensation includes a base salary of $2.1 million, incentive payments of approximately $5 million, and stock awards of more than $21.6 million, as well as additional compensation including benefits and other items. Meanwhile, GM President Mark Reuss earned more than $19.3 million in 2025, while CFO Paul Jacobson earned about $13.8 million.
In reports published late last year, Anderson was rumored to be replacing Barra as CEO of GM, but General Motors then contacted him. GM Authority with the following statement:
“Sterling joined General Motors in June 2025 and serves as Chief Product Officer. Any discussion regarding a future role is premature and speculative.”
SUBSCRIBE TO GM AUTHORITY
We’ll send you an email or two a day with the latest GM news coverage. It’s completely free.
