Elon Musk Becomes First Person to Hit $500 Billion Net Worth

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX, has officially become the first individual in history to reach a personal fortune of half a trillion dollars. According to Forbes, his wealth briefly crossed the $500 billion mark before settling at $499 billion, cementing his position as the world’s richest person and placing him halfway to trillionaire status.

How Musk Reached the Half-Trillion Milestone

The backbone of Musk’s extraordinary wealth is his 12% ownership stake in Tesla, currently valued at over $1.5 trillion. The electric car giant’s share price has surged this year, driven by record-breaking vehicle deliveries and strong investor confidence.

Between July and September 2025, Tesla delivered nearly 497,099 vehicles, surpassing Wall Street forecasts. This surge was fueled by a U.S. government tax credit program for electric vehicle buyers, boosting demand before the subsidy expired.

SpaceX, xAI, and Other Ventures Fuel Growth

Musk’s empire extends far beyond Tesla. His space exploration company, SpaceX, is reportedly targeting a valuation of $400 billion, with Musk owning approximately 42% of the company. Meanwhile, his AI startup, xAI, reached an impressive $75 billion valuation earlier this year, further strengthening his wealth portfolio.

Together, these ventures have not only diversified Musk’s income streams but also positioned him as a key player across technology, energy, and artificial intelligence industries.

Tesla’s Rollercoaster Year

At the start of 2025, Tesla shares faced turbulence due to increasing competition from Chinese EV manufacturers, a slowdown in global sales, and investor concerns about Musk’s divided attention between Tesla, SpaceX, and his other ventures.

Additionally, Musk’s outspoken political views and public alignment with former President Donald Trump caused some backlash, impacting Tesla’s brand image and sales in certain markets.

However, a rebound followed as Musk re-focused on Tesla’s core mission. By mid-2025, Tesla’s stock had surged 13% year-to-date, supported by strong delivery numbers and Musk’s renewed leadership presence.

Confidence Boost: Musk’s $1 Billion Tesla Share Purchase

In a bold show of confidence, Musk personally purchased $1 billion worth of Tesla shares in September 2025. This move reassured investors that he remains committed to Tesla’s long-term vision of transforming into a leader not just in EVs, but also in AI and robotics.

Robyn Denholm, Tesla’s board chair, highlighted Musk’s renewed commitment, saying he was back “front and centre” at the company after a stretch of political distractions in Washington.

Tesla’s $1 Trillion Compensation Plan

Tesla’s board recently proposed an unprecedented $1 trillion compensation package for Musk. The deal is tied to aggressive financial and operational milestones, reflecting both his demand for a greater stake and the board’s recognition of his pivotal role in Tesla’s future.

If approved, the package could significantly increase Musk’s control over Tesla, potentially pushing his net worth even higher over the next decade.

Shifting Places Among the World’s Richest

Musk’s dominance at the top of global wealth rankings hasn’t been without competition. In September 2025, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly overtook Musk as the world’s richest man. However, Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index now places Musk far ahead with a fortune of $470 billion, compared to Ellison’s $349 billion.

Despite fluctuations in Tesla’s stock and market volatility, Musk has consistently remained a leading figure in discussions about the future of global wealth and trillionaire potential.

What This Means for the Future

Musk’s rise to a net worth of $500 billion is symbolic of broader shifts in the global economy. It reflects investor confidence in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. As Tesla transitions into a robotics and AI powerhouse, and SpaceX advances toward Mars colonization, Musk’s wealth could continue to climb.

However, challenges remain. Global EV competition, political controversies, and regulatory pressures could impact Tesla’s growth. Similarly, scaling ambitious ventures like xAI and SpaceX to profitability will test Musk’s leadership and vision.

Conclusion

Elon Musk’s achievement of becoming the first person with a net worth of $500 billion is unprecedented in modern history. Powered by Tesla’s rebound, SpaceX’s soaring valuation, and his growing influence in AI, Musk stands at the forefront of innovation and wealth creation.

While his net worth has slightly dipped back to $499 billion, Musk’s journey toward trillionaire status now looks more achievable than ever. Investors and analysts will be watching closely to see whether his bold bets on electric vehicles, space, and AI will make him the world’s first trillionaire.