how much was tesla stock when it split

Price of Tesla stock at the time of its stock splits

how much was tesla stock when it split is a common investor question about Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). This article documents the two major stock splits Tesla completed in recent years (a five‑for‑one split in 2020 and a three‑for‑one split in 2022), reports the widely published market prices around those split events, explains how to compute split‑adjusted prices, summarizes short‑term market behavior observed around the splits, and points to authoritative sources for exact historical price and corporate‑action records.

Note: this article is informational and factual. It does not provide investment advice. For trading or custody options, consider Bitget's platform and Bitget Wallet for Web3 needs.

Background — What is a stock split?

A stock split increases the number of outstanding shares while proportionally reducing the per‑share price so that the company’s overall market capitalization does not change solely because of the split. Companies typically carry out splits to make shares more affordable for retail investors, improve liquidity, and facilitate employee equity programs. Stock splits change share counts and nominal per‑share prices but do not change the company’s fundamentals or ownership percentages (aside from fractional rounding adjustments where applicable).

Tesla stock split timeline

• As of Aug 11, 2020, Tesla announced a five‑for‑one stock split (5‑for‑1) in an official press release to shareholders and filings (Tesla Investor Relations / SEC). The record date was Aug 21, 2020, distribution occurred Aug 28, and trading on a split‑adjusted basis began Aug 31, 2020.
• As of Aug 5, 2022, Tesla announced a three‑for‑one stock split (3‑for‑1) via Tesla Investor Relations. The record date was Aug 17, 2022, distribution occurred Aug 24, and trading on a split‑adjusted basis began Aug 25, 2022.

These corporate‑action dates and ratios are the official reference points for interpreting pre‑ and post‑split price series in historical data providers.

Reported market prices at each split

This section summarizes contemporaneous reported prices around each split event from major news outlets and Tesla’s own corporate communications. Prices reported by financial news are snapshots (pre‑market, open, intraday high/low, and close) and can differ slightly between sources due to the timing of quotes and whether the data are adjusted for the split.

2020 — Five‑for‑one split (Aug 2020)

As of Aug 31, 2020, according to CNN Business, Tesla shares traded on their first split‑adjusted trading day around $498.32 per share (post‑split price). Because the split ratio was 5‑for‑1, the pre‑split per‑share equivalent would be approximately 5 × $498.32 ≈ $2,491.60. That calculation gives a quick way to compare the pre‑split and post‑split nominal values, but exact pre‑split close and post‑split open/close prices can vary across minutes of trading due to normal market movement. Tesla’s official press release dated Aug 11, 2020, documents the split ratio, record date, and distribution schedule used by exchanges and data providers to adjust historical time series.

2022 — Three‑for‑one split (Aug 2022)

As of Aug 25, 2022, according to Reuters reporting from the first split‑adjusted trading day, Tesla shares opened near $302 and closed at $296.07 on Aug 25, 2022 (split‑adjusted figures reported by Reuters). FOREX.com and other contemporaneous reports noted that the pre‑split close on Aug 24, 2022 was about $891.29; dividing that by 3 (the split factor) yields roughly $891.29 ÷ 3 ≈ $297.10 as the post‑split equivalent. FOREX.com’s coverage and Reuters’ market‑open/close snapshots provide consistent evidence that the split‑adjusted trading price on Aug 25, 2022 traded in the high $200s to low $300s range on that first day, reflecting normal intraday movement.

How to interpret and compute split‑adjusted prices

A practical rule for converting prices across splits:

• To convert a post‑split price back to a pre‑split equivalent, multiply the post‑split price by the split factor (e.g., post‑split × 5 for a 5‑for‑1 split).
• To convert a pre‑split price into the split‑adjusted price, divide the pre‑split price by the split factor (e.g., pre‑split ÷ 3 for a 3‑for‑1 split).

Examples below clarify the math and demonstrate why historical charts are commonly shown in split‑adjusted form so that long‑term price series are comparable.

Example calculations (worked examples)

• 2020 (5‑for‑1): Using the reported post‑split trading level on Aug 31, 2020 of about $498.32 (CNN Business), the pre‑split equivalent would be approximately 5 × $498.32 = $2,491.60. That number is a notional conversion to help compare prices across time; actual pre‑split close on the trading day prior to the split may differ slightly because of intraday movement.

• 2022 (3‑for‑1): Using the reported pre‑split close on Aug 24, 2022 of about $891.29, the split‑adjusted post‑split equivalent equals $891.29 ÷ 3 ≈ $297.10. Reuters reported the first post‑split trading day (Aug 25, 2022) open/close values near $302 / $296.07, which aligns closely with this simple arithmetic conversion.

These computations are straightforward and are the method most financial data vendors use to present consistent historical price charts that account for splits.

Market reaction and short‑term price behavior around Tesla splits

Stock splits often generate heightened retail interest because a lower per‑share price can feel more accessible to small investors (though ownership percentage and total market value do not change from the split itself). Market responses typically include:

• Increased retail trading activity and volume in the days immediately before and after the split effective date.
• Short‑term volatility or gaps at the open on the first split‑adjusted trading day as algorithms and order flow reprice shares at the new per‑share levels.
• No automatic change to company fundamentals; fundamental investors assess revenue, earnings, and unit economics rather than the nominal share price.

As of Aug 25, 2022, Reuters reported that Tesla shares closed lower on the first split‑adjusted trading day, demonstrating that while a split can change accessibility and trading patterns, it does not dictate direction. FOREX.com and other coverage stressed that splits are often more about optics and liquidity than intrinsic valuation changes.

Where to find authoritative historical prices and split records

For exact minute‑by‑minute historical prices, official split records, and formal corporate‑action details, consult these primary sources:

• Tesla Investor Relations press releases and the company’s SEC filings for official split announcements, record dates, distribution dates, and any shareholder communications (e.g., the Aug 11, 2020 5‑for‑1 announcement and the Aug 5, 2022 3‑for‑1 announcement).
• Exchange records and consolidated tape data for official trade prints and quote history on specific dates.
• Reputable financial data providers (e.g., Reuters, Yahoo Finance, Macrotrends) for split‑adjusted historical time series and archival snapshots of open/high/low/close/volume.

Always match the exchange’s corporate‑action record to your price data provider’s adjustment method when doing historical comparisons.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: how much was tesla stock when it split — exactly? A: The exact per‑share number depends on whether you mean pre‑split or post‑split and which split you mean. For the 2020 5‑for‑1 split, widely reported post‑split trading on Aug 31, 2020 was about $498.32 (CNN Business); multiply that by 5 for a pre‑split equivalent (~$2,491.60). For the 2022 3‑for‑1 split, the pre‑split close on Aug 24, 2022 was about $891.29 and the split‑adjusted trading on Aug 25, 2022 was near $296–$302 (FOREX.com, Reuters). Exact historical prints are available from exchange records and financial data vendors.

Q: Why do historical charts show different prices than the ones I remember? A: Most charting platforms present split‑adjusted historical prices so that older price points reflect the current share count and allow continuous comparison. If a chart is not adjusted, older prices may appear disproportionately high for pre‑split periods.

Q: Are splits a reason to buy or sell? A: A split itself does not change company fundamentals. Any trading decision should be based on fundamentals, risk tolerance, and properly framed research. This article does not give investment advice.

Q: how much was tesla stock when it split — where can I verify minute‑by‑minute prices? A: For minute‑by‑minute (tick) data and trade prints on split dates, consult exchange data feeds, the consolidated tape, or professional historical data vendors. Tesla’s IR press releases confirm corporate‑action dates that data vendors use to adjust series.

Market data points and measurables around split dates

The most verifiable, quantifiable items around a split are:

• Split ratio and distribution/record dates (official corporate‑action metadata). Example: 5‑for‑1 announced Aug 11, 2020; 3‑for‑1 announced Aug 5, 2022.
• Reported open/close prices on specific dates — e.g., CNN Business’s reported post‑split level on Aug 31, 2020 (~$498.32 post‑split) and Reuters’ reported open/close on Aug 25, 2022 (open near $302; close $296.07, split‑adjusted).
• Trading volume spikes and intraday volatility metrics that can be retrieved from exchange prints for the relevant dates.

Where available, examine the exchange’s trade volume on the first split‑adjusted day and compare it to the stock’s average daily volume in the prior month to quantify any retail interest surge. For formal corporate details and confirmations, use Tesla’s investor relations releases and filings.

Notes on sources, reporting dates, and verification

• As of Aug 11, 2020, Tesla’s investor relations statement announced the 5‑for‑1 split (Tesla IR / SEC filing).
• As of Aug 31, 2020, CNN Business reported first‑day split‑adjusted trading levels around $498.32 for Tesla (post‑split snapshot).
• As of Aug 5, 2022, Tesla announced a 3‑for‑1 stock split (Tesla IR).
• As of Aug 25, 2022, Reuters reported pre‑ and post‑split trading activity and prices on the first split‑adjusted trading day (open near $302, close $296.07), and FOREX.com reported similar split‑adjusted ranges with a pre‑split close of about $891.29 on Aug 24, 2022.

Because news outlets report snapshot prices at specific times, readers seeking exact minute‑by‑minute historical trade prints should consult exchange archives or tick‑level datasets offered by specialized providers. Official corporate‑action dates from Tesla’s press releases are the authoritative basis for how price series are adjusted.

Example — step‑by‑step price conversion

1. Identify the split ratio and the date you care about (e.g., 5‑for‑1 split, Aug 31, 2020 first split‑adjusted trading day).
2. Obtain the reported quote you want to convert (e.g., reported post‑split close $498.32).
3. Apply the arithmetic: pre‑split equivalent = post‑split price × split factor (here, ×5 → ~$2,491.60).

Reverse the process to get the split‑adjusted figure: adjusted = pre‑split price ÷ split factor.

How data providers show Tesla’s historical series

Most major financial data vendors and charting platforms apply corporate action adjustments (including splits) to maintain continuous series. That means older prices are divided by the cumulative split factors to reflect today’s share count. If you download raw, unadjusted historical trade prints from an exchange, you will see nominal pre‑split prices that are higher by the split factor; most users find split‑adjusted series easier to compare across long timeframes.

Market context and caution

Stock splits are corporate actions that change share counts; they do not change cash flows, profits, or total market capitalization by themselves. Market reactions vary and can be driven by investor sentiment, liquidity changes, and macro environment. Historical reporting at the time of each Tesla split shows heightened attention and volume changes but also normal price discovery on the days following the split effective dates.

Further reading and related topics

• Stock split (general concepts and mechanics)
• TSLA historical prices and adjusted charts
• Corporate actions and shareholder communications
• Buying fractional shares and retail access to high‑price equities

Practical next steps and where Bitget helps

If you're tracking TSLA historical prices or comparing pre‑ and post‑split values, begin with Tesla’s investor relations releases to lock down official split dates and ratios, then pull minute‑level trade data from a reliable provider to verify the exact trade prints you need. For trading access, custody, or to explore derivatives and spot instruments with a regulated counterparty, consider Bitget’s trading and wallet services as part of your research and execution workflow.

If you still wonder how much was tesla stock when it split and want exact, timestamped trade prints, contact a data vendor for exchange‑level historical tapes or check the exchange archive that records official prints on the split dates.

References (primary sources and reporting dates)

• Tesla Investor Relations — 5‑for‑1 split announcement (announced Aug 11, 2020; record Aug 21, distribution Aug 28, trading Aug 31, 2020).
• Tesla Investor Relations — 3‑for‑1 split announcement (announced Aug 5, 2022; record Aug 17, distribution Aug 24, trading Aug 25, 2022).
• As of Aug 31, 2020, CNN Business reported first‑day split‑adjusted trading levels around $498.32 for Tesla (post‑split snapshot).
• As of Aug 25, 2022, Reuters reported Tesla’s first split‑adjusted trading day opened near $302 and closed at $296.07 (split‑adjusted), and FOREX.com reported a post‑split level near $297 consistent with pre‑split close ≈ $891.29 on Aug 24, 2022.
• Historical split listings and adjusted series for TSLA are available from data sources such as Yahoo Finance and Macrotrends (check their split history pages for confirmation).

Important accuracy note

This article uses Tesla’s official split announcements and contemporaneous news reports to document split ratios and commonly reported price snapshots. Because reported prices are time‑stamped quotes (open, intraday, close) from specific moments, exact pre‑ and post‑split closes can differ by minutes across sources. For verified minute‑by‑minute trade prints and exchange‑level confirmations, consult the appropriate exchange archives or a professional historical data provider.

Further explore related topics or view Tesla’s formal filings for the authoritative corporate actions. If you want guided access for trading or custody, learn more about Bitget’s platform and Bitget Wallet.

This article was prepared from Tesla investor communications and contemporaneous financial reporting to answer the question "how much was tesla stock when it split". It is neutral and factual; it is not investment advice.