Elon Musk Becomes First to Reach $500 Billion Net Worth as Tesla Surges, Set to Be World's First Trillionaire

The Tesla CEO and tech magnate Elon Musk On Wednesday became the first person in recorded history to amass a personal fortune approaching half a trillion dollars, with Forbes reporting his net worth at a staggering $499.5 billion as of 3:55 p.m. Eastern Time. This major milestone follows a sharp rise in Tesla's stock. Musk's business empire is also growing fast which includes electric cars, space travel, and artificial intelligence.

Elon Musk Net Worth

In March 2020, his net worth was just $24.6 billion. By August 2020, he had become one of only five individuals to cross the $100 billion mark. He reached $200 billion in September 2021, $300 billion by November, and $400 billion in December 2024. Now, less than a year later, he stands on the brink of the $500 billion threshold.

Could Elon Musk Become the World's First Trillionaire?

If his current trajectory continues, Musk could become the world's first trillionaire-possibly before March 2033, the earliest vesting date for his proposed $1 trillion Tesla pay package.

Oracle Co-founder Larry Ellison Spots At Second Position After Elon Musk On Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list

Trailing far behind in second place on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires list is Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, whose net worth stood at $351.5 billion at the same time. Musk's fortune now exceeds Ellison's by nearly $150 billion, underscoring the Tesla CEO's dominance not only in the business world but also in the uppermost echelons of personal wealth.

Elon Musk Net Worth Hits $500 Billion: Tesla Is The Largest Contributor

This monumental milestone comes amid a strong rebound in Tesla's stock price and the ballooning valuations of Musk's diverse business empire, which spans electric vehicles, private space exploration and artificial intelligence.

Tesla continues to be the largest contributor to Musk's wealth, with its shares climbing more than 14% this year alone. A nearly 4% surge on Wednesday added approximately $9.3 billion to Musk's net worth in just a single day.

Tesla Stock Price Rising and Financial Growth

Tesla's momentum has been fueled by renewed investor confidence following Musk's public commitment to refocus on the company. Earlier this year, Musk announced his decision to step away from his controversial advisory role in President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The move, made public during Tesla's April earnings call, was widely interpreted as a strategic shift. Since then, Tesla's stock has nearly doubled, and its market capitalization is now within 10% of its all-time high from December 2021.

Musk currently owns about 12% of Tesla, a stake worth approximately $191 billion. This valuation excludes his performance-based stock options granted in his landmark 2018 CEO compensation package. These options, if fully vested, would be worth $133 billion today.

However, the package was voided by a Delaware court in January 2024 over concerns of improper board oversight. While Musk has appealed the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court, Forbes has conservatively reduced the value of the options by 50% pending the outcome.

Despite this legal uncertainty, Tesla's board has already floated a new and even more ambitious compensation package for Musk. Proposed in September, the plan could award him stock worth up to $1 trillion over the next decade-if he meets a set of "Mars-shot" performance targets.

SpaceX Is Now Valued at $400 Billion

Beyond Tesla, Musk's other ventures are also contributing significantly to his wealth. SpaceX, the rocket company he founded in 2002, has continued its meteoric rise. Following a private tender offer in August, SpaceX is now valued at $400 billion, up from $350 billion in December 2024. Musk owns roughly 42% of the company, giving him a stake worth $168 billion.

Elon Musk's xAI Holdings Valued at $113 Billion After Merger with X

Meanwhile, Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has also emerged as a major player. In March 2025, Musk merged xAI with his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), forming a new entity called xAI Holdings. The combined company is now valued at $113 billion, with Musk holding an estimated 53% stake, worth $60 billion. xAI aims to rival AI giants like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, and has quickly become one of the most closely watched AI ventures globally.