San Francisco | Tesla shareholders have reaffirmed a pay award of more than $US48 billion ($72 billion) for Elon Musk, the chief executive, after it was thrown out in a legal challenge.

The vote result, announced at Tesla’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas, on Thursday (Friday AEST), is a strong sign that shareholders still believe in Mr Musk, and it could persuade the judge who voided the award to reinstate it.