Tesla's story captivates the business world. But behind the headlines of innovation and charismatic leadership lies a financial narrative of high stakes, immense investment, and ultimately, a stunning turnaround. Analyzing Tesla's official 10-K filings from 2010 to 2024 reveals the challenging, decade-long path to profitability. A Decade of Building (and Burning Cash) From 2010 through 2019, Tesla didn't post a single profitable year. The costs of pioneering electric vehicles, constructing massive Gigafactories worldwide, developing cutting-edge battery tech, and establishing a direct-to-consumer sales model were immense. During this period, cumulative net losses exceeded a staggering $6 billion. This sustained pre-profit phase tested investor patience and fueled widespread skepticism about the viability of Tesla's ambitious vision. The 2020 Inflection Point The narrative shifted decisively in 2020. Our analysis pinpoints this year as the crucial turning point when Tesl...