Elon Musk Reaches Historic $500 Billion Milestone: The Wealth Behind Tesla and SpaceX

A wealth milestone that seemed impossible just years ago has now become reality. Elon Musk’s net worth touched $500 billion, making him the wealthiest individual on the planet—a gap of roughly $150 billion between him and the second-richest person, Oracle’s Larry Ellison. The breakthrough was confirmed by Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires tracker at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, following a remarkable 4% single-day surge in Tesla stock that added $9.3 billion to his fortune.

The Rapid Ascent: From $24.6 Billion to $500 Billion

The journey to this historic figure is nothing short of extraordinary. Just five years ago in March 2020, Elon Musk’s net worth stood at a modest $24.6 billion. By August of that same year, Tesla’s explosive stock performance catapulted him into the $100 billion club, becoming the fifth person globally to reach that threshold.

The acceleration then became relentless. By November 2021, he claimed the title of world’s richest person after surpassing the $190 billion mark. September 2021 saw him cross the $200 billion barrier, trailing only Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault at the time. The $300 billion milestone arrived in November, followed by $400 billion in December 2024. Now, less than a year later, the $500 billion barrier has fallen.

Tesla: The Engine Driving the Wealth

Tesla remains the primary wealth generator for Elon Musk. His 12% stake in the electric vehicle manufacturer is currently valued at $191 billion. Since Musk’s departure from his DOGE role, Tesla stock has nearly doubled, bringing the company’s market valuation to within 10% of its all-time highs. The recent 4% daily rally in Tesla shares demonstrates the stock’s continued momentum and investor confidence in the company’s growth trajectory.

SpaceX and xAI: The Hidden Wealth Pillars

While Tesla dominates the headlines, Musk’s other ventures contribute significantly to his net worth. SpaceX, the rocket company founded in 2002, reached a private valuation of $400 billion as of August following a new tender offer—up from $350 billion in December. Musk’s 42% ownership stake translates to approximately $168 billion in wealth.

Beyond space exploration, xAI Holdings—Musk’s artificial intelligence startup merged with X (formerly Twitter)—carries a valuation of $113 billion. His 53% ownership in the combined entity adds another $60 billion to his total wealth portfolio.

What’s Next: The Trillion-Dollar Question

With the $500 billion threshold crossed, speculation about whether Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire continues to grow. Tesla’s board recently proposed an ambitious compensation package that could theoretically reach $1 trillion in value if the company achieves extreme growth milestones over the next decade—specifically, multiplying its market capitalization more than eightfold.

Musk’s explanation for the package underscores his long-term vision: maintaining sufficient control to ensure safety as Tesla moves toward producing millions of autonomous robots. This proposed plan reflects not just personal wealth accumulation, but strategic positioning for technological dominance across multiple industries.

The $500 billion net worth represents more than a personal achievement—it’s a testament to the intersection of electric vehicle innovation, space exploration advancement, and artificial intelligence development reshaping global markets.