Elon Musk’s net worth reached a peak previously thought unimaginable this week, briefly crossing the $500 billion line before settling at a colossal $499 billion. This event makes him the only person to ever amass such a fortune, illustrating a level of wealth creation that is reshaping the scales of global finance.
The bedrock of this wealth remains Tesla. The electric automaker, which Musk leads as CEO, is now valued at more than $1.5 trillion. His 12% ownership of the company translates into hundreds of billions of dollars, with every fluctuation in share price dramatically impacting his personal bottom line. The stock’s 13% rise in 2025 has been the key driver of this recent milestone.
Tesla’s operational strength continues to impress the market. The company recently announced it delivered 497,099 vehicles in the third quarter, a new record that surpassed all forecasts. This success was partly attributed to a surge in demand in the US ahead of the expiration of a significant tax credit for EV buyers, proving the company’s strong market positioning.
However, reducing Musk’s success to just Tesla would be an oversimplification. His ventures in space exploration and artificial intelligence are also powerhouse assets. SpaceX, his rocket company, is reportedly aiming for a $400 billion valuation, while his new AI firm, xAI, has already achieved a $75 billion valuation, according to Pitchbook data.
Despite a challenging start to the year marked by competitive pressures and concerns over his divided attention, Musk has steered Tesla back into investors’ good graces. His vocal confidence, backed by a $1 billion personal stock purchase, and a renewed focus on the company’s ambitious pivot to AI and robotics have solidified his status at the apex of the global wealth pyramid.