Elon Musk now stands alone at the pinnacle of global wealth, having become the first individual to see their net worth cross the $500 billion threshold. While the figure later adjusted to $499 billion, the achievement puts him in a category of one, with a fortune that dramatically eclipses his nearest competitors.
This astronomical sum is primarily built on the foundation of Tesla, the electric vehicle company he co-founded and leads. With Tesla’s market capitalization now standing at over $1.5 trillion, Musk’s 12% equity stake has become the most valuable personal holding in corporate history. The stock’s recent climb, up 13% in 2025, has been the direct catalyst for this new record.
Tesla’s financial performance has been just as impressive as its stock chart. The company shattered delivery expectations in its latest quarterly report, shipping 497,099 cars between July and September. This sales bonanza was partly driven by a rush to claim an expiring US tax credit, highlighting the company’s powerful market presence.
Musk’s financial empire is also diversified across other futuristic sectors. SpaceX, his pioneering rocket company, is pursuing a valuation of $400 billion, a testament to its dominance in the commercial space race. In addition, his AI startup, xAI, has quickly reached a $75 billion valuation, reflecting immense investor confidence in his vision for artificial intelligence.
Even with different methodologies used by wealth trackers—Forbes puts him at $499 billion while Bloomberg calculates his worth at $470 billion—the conclusion is the same. Musk’s lead over the second-richest person, Oracle’s Larry Ellison (valued at $349 billion by Bloomberg), is vast and growing, cementing his status as the undisputed king of modern capitalism.