People who paid $50K to reserve a Roadster would have made bank investing that in Tesla stock instead
Tesla Roadster reservation holders who paid deposits as early as 2017 would have seen significantly higher returns by investing that capital in Tesla stock instead. The vehicle has faced repeated production delays, leading to a massive opportunity cost for early supporters.
Why it matters
This analysis illustrates the financial impact of long-term product delays and the volatility of tech-sector investments.
Tesla's Roadster reservation holders could have made a lot more if they had chosen an investment vehicle over an electric vehicle. Tesla Tesla first unveiled plans to reboot the high-powered Roadster in 2017. Reservations cost $50,000. The company stock has skyrocketed since the announcement as the Roadster languished in limbo for nearly 9 years. We did some back-of-the-napkin math to find out how much that $50,000 could have yielded if invested in Tesla stock instead. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is about to pull the wraps off the second-generation Roadster — again. It's been nine years since Elon Musk said it would revive the Roadster. Would-be buyers chomped at the bit to grab the two-door, 600-mile-range, high-powered electric car way back in November 2017. They paid either $50,000 to reserve a spot in the car's queue or $250,000 to buy a Founders Series upfront.
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