Elon Musk has crossed a historic milestone, becoming the first individual in history to reach a net worth of $500 billion, according to Forbes’ billionaire index. The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s fortune has been fueled by a sharp rebound in Tesla stock and swelling valuations of his other ventures, from rockets to artificial intelligence.
Tesla Surge and Record Pay Package
Musk’s wealth is tied heavily to his 12% stake in Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker. Tesla shares are up about 14% year-to-date, boosted in part by Musk’s $1 billion personal stock purchase last month — a signal of confidence as Tesla pivots from cars toward AI and robotics.
Adding fuel, Tesla’s board recently proposed a record $1 trillion pay package for Musk, the largest in corporate history. Since the announcement on September 5, Tesla shares have jumped 35.7%, as investors bet the package will cement Musk’s focus on the automaker’s ambitious growth.
SpaceX and xAI Lift Valuations
Beyond Tesla, Musk’s SpaceX continues to dominate commercial space launches and expand its Starlink satellite network. The company is reportedly valued at $400 billion. Meanwhile, Musk’s AI startup xAI is raising funds at a $200 billion valuation, more than doubling from $75 billion in July as it builds its “Colossus” supercomputer to train advanced AI models.
These soaring valuations have added tens of billions to Musk’s fortune in recent months, helping him outpace other billionaires by a wide margin.
The Half-Trillion Dollar Mark
Musk’s wealth briefly hit $500 billion on Wednesday, before settling at $499.1 billion at market close, underscoring the volatility tied to his holdings. Still, he remains far ahead of his closest rival, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, whose net worth sits at $350.7 billion.
From electric cars and clean energy to rockets and AI, Musk’s empire has positioned him at the center of nearly every major technology trend. With Tesla’s record compensation package, SpaceX’s space dominance, and xAI’s rapid rise, the world’s richest man has now become the world’s first half-trillionaire — a milestone that underscores both investor confidence and the enormous stakes riding on his vision.
