Elon Musk has reached a new milestone, becoming the first person whose net worth hit $500 billion, reports the Guardian, though the figure slipped back to $499 billion shortly after, per Forbes. The Tesla CEO's fortune has soared in 2025, largely riding a 70% rebound in Tesla's share price over the last six months, following a rocky period for the company earlier in the year. Tesla's valuation, now above $1.5 trillion, means Musk's 12% stake alone is a major wealth driver.
Musk, 54, also holds significant shares in his other ventures, including a 42% stake in SpaceX, which is reportedly seeking a $400 billion valuation, and xAI, an artificial intelligence startup valued at $75 billion as of July. But it hasn't been all smooth sailing: Tesla's stock stumbled early on amid questions about Musk's focus, increased competition from Chinese automakers, and the impact of his political stances—including open support for President Trump and his outspokenness on X, the social platform he owns—on sales.
Despite the turbulence, investor sentiment improved as Musk returned his attention to Tesla, with board Chair Robyn Denholm recently describing Musk as being "front and center" again. Musk cemented his confidence in Tesla's future by purchasing $1 billion in shares, as the company shifts its ambitions from cars to AI and robotics. The Tesla board has also floated a $1 trillion pay package for him, tying future compensation to ambitious growth targets.
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Musk's top spot hasn't gone unchallenged: Oracle founder Larry Ellison briefly overtook him in September on Bloomberg's own billionaires list, though that outlet and Forbes now show Musk as having regained a solid lead. Bloomberg pegs his wealth at $470 billion, still comfortably ahead of Ellison's $349 billion.
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