I learned reading [this question](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/109483/maximal-order-of-elements-in-gln-p) that GL(n,p) elements have at most a multiplicative order of $p^n -1$. I would like to know how many matrices have an order of exactly $p^n -1$. Do they represent a majority of matrices in GL(n,p) ? The answer suggested to build matrices of maximal order this way. > Consider a degree n monic polynomial $P_n$ whose root is a generator $ξ$ of $F^∗_{p^n}$. Then a matrix with $P_n$ as its characteristic polynomial has order at least $p^n−1$ since $ξ$ is its eigenvalue. I don't know how to create a such matrix, yet enumerate them... Thank you so much for any help ^^