Elon Musk has made history, becoming the first individual ever to achieve a net worth of $500 billion, according to Forbes. His fortune climbed to $500.1 billion as of October 1, cementing his position as the richest person in the world and setting a record unmatched by any other billionaire.
Musk’s wealth is largely tied to Tesla, where he owns about 12.4% of the stock. Recent gains in Tesla’s share price — rising more than 14% this year — have fueled billions in additional value for the entrepreneur.
In a single trading session, Musk’s fortune jumped by more than $6 billion. His personal purchase of approximately $1 billion in Tesla shares earlier in 2025 further bolstered investor sentiment and confidence in the company’s future.
Yet Tesla is just one piece of Musk’s vast portfolio. His fortune also reflects valuations across his other ventures, most notably SpaceX, which is rumoured to be nearing a valuation of $400 billion, and xAI, his artificial intelligence startup that has quickly risen in visibility amid the AI boom. Together, these companies are responsible for much of the extraordinary wealth creation that pushed Musk beyond the half-trillion threshold.
Tesla at the Core, But Other Ventures Rising
Tesla remains Musk’s financial anchor, but the company faces real challenges. It must contend with increasing competition in the electric vehicle market, margin pressure from aggressive pricing, and fluctuating global demand. Despite these hurdles, the automaker’s strong position in EV technology and battery systems continues to support Musk’s fortune.
SpaceX has grown into a dominant force in space exploration, satellite deployment, and launch services. Its Starlink internet constellation now serves millions of customers worldwide, adding a steady revenue stream. Investors believe SpaceX’s next step — potentially an IPO of Starlink — could unlock even greater value and further amplify Musk’s wealth.
xAI, launched in 2023, is positioning itself as a competitor to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind. The company is working on advanced AI systems that Musk claims will be developed with a strong focus on safety and transparency. As AI adoption accelerates globally, xAI is expected to become a significant contributor to Musk’s overall net worth.
Musk’s Neuralink is also advancing, with recent approvals for human clinical trials of its brain-computer interface technology. While still in early stages, the company could eventually become a key player in neurotechnology. The Boring Company, Musk’s tunneling and infrastructure venture, continues to secure contracts for underground transit projects, though on a smaller scale compared to his other businesses.
His ownership of X (formerly Twitter) adds a more complex dimension. While the platform has struggled with advertising revenue and user controversies, Musk views it as central to his vision of building a global “everything app.” If X succeeds in payments, commerce, or AI integration, it could eventually play a larger role in his wealth story.
A Record-Breaking Milestone in Wealth
Musk’s achievement of $500 billion comes amid shifting competition among the world’s richest individuals. Earlier this year, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison briefly overtook him, but Musk quickly regained the lead. At present, Ellison’s wealth is estimated at around $350 billion, leaving Musk in a league of his own.
The milestone reflects not only Musk’s dominance across multiple industries — from cars to rockets to AI — but also the scale of capital now flowing into these sectors. Artificial intelligence, electrification, and space commercialisation are no longer speculative; they are driving some of the largest valuations in history.
Reaching $500 billion underscores how Musk’s unique blend of risk-taking and innovation has reshaped entire industries and concentrated unprecedented wealth in the hands of one individual. Whether this figure proves sustainable will depend on the performance of Tesla, the continued growth of SpaceX, and the trajectory of emerging ventures like xAI and Neuralink.
For now, Musk’s historic ascent highlights the extraordinary speed at which fortunes can be built in the AI era — and how tightly the future of global wealth is tied to technology and visionary leadership.
