22 Facts About Robyn Denholm

Robyn M Denholm is an Australian business executive and former accountant who is chair of Tesla, Inc.

In November 2018, Denholm was handpicked by Elon Musk to succeed him as chair of Tesla, Inc Prior to her appointment, she was relatively unknown.

Robyn Denholm is the highest-paid chair of any public company in the United States.

Robyn Denholm was born 27 May 1963 in Milperra, New South Wales.

Robyn Denholm's parents met and married in Tripoli, Libya, immigrating to Australia in the 1950s.

Robyn Denholm has Maltese and Italian ancestry on her father's side and Maltese and Scottish ancestry on her mother's side; her father spoke five languages.

Robyn Denholm grew up in the Sydney suburb of Lugarno with her older brother and younger sister.

Robyn Denholm's father worked as a welder and her mother was a ledger machine operator.

Robyn Denholm handled the financial accounts, repaired cars, pumped petrol and became interested in cars.

Robyn Denholm graduated from the University of Sydney with a bachelor's degree in economics, and from the University of New South Wales in 1999 with a master's degree in commerce.

Robyn Denholm is a chartered accountant and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Robyn Denholm worked at the IT companies Sun Microsystems, and then Juniper Networks for nine years in finance and operations roles, rising to chief financial officer of Juniper.

In early 2017, Robyn Denholm was appointed as chief operations officer of Telstra, Australia's largest telecoms company, subsequently becoming chief financial officer on 1 October 2018, which held until May 2019.

In November 2018, Robyn Denholm was appointed chair of Tesla Inc's board of directors, replacing Elon Musk.

In March 2025, it was reported that Robyn Denholm was the highest-paid chair of any public company in the US having being awarded $682 million in cash and stock since she 2014, of which she has sold $532 million worth of stock.

Robyn Denholm was criticized by an American judge for approving a $56 billion payout to Elon Musk for his work as chairman, which would be the record compensation for a CEO.

In January 2021, Robyn Denholm became an operating partner at Blackbird Ventures, a venture capital firm.

Robyn Denholm was listed in the Fortune's list of Most Powerful Women in 2023.

Robyn Denholm is married to David Taylor, a retired electrical engineer.

Robyn Denholm has a son and a daughter from a previous marriage.

Robyn Denholm had her son at age 24 and she had her daughter in 1993.

Robyn Denholm moved from Sydney to Colorado with her children in 2001.