Elon Musk
Musk first appeared on Forbes’ annual billionaires list in 2012 with a net worth estimated at $2 billion. At that time, he ranked 634th among the world’s richest people. It took him nine years after that to become the world’s richest person for the first time: in January 2021, the rapid rise in Tesla’s stock price allowed Musk to surpass Jeff Bezos and take the top spot on the global billionaire list.
Most of his wealth is tied to his stakes in SpaceX and Tesla, so the total amount can fluctuate significantly along with the market valuation of these companies. Elon Musk’s fortune is not derived from a single asset but from stakes in several companies. The main ones are SpaceX and Tesla. They make up the bulk of his capital. In addition, the billionaire’s portfolio includes xAI/X, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
Trillions are turning into…
Musk’s business empire is built around several areas: electric vehicles, space, artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, and infrastructure. His net worth fluctuates rapidly because the bulk of his wealth is tied not to cash but to the market value of his shares in these companies.
Following a decline in SpaceX’s stock price in the second half of June, his net worth estimates fell. Investopedia, citing the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, put Musk’s net worth at approximately $946 billion, while Forbes estimated it at approximately $941 billion. According to the same estimate, Musk’s largest asset—his stake in SpaceX—is worth approximately $737 billion. His stake in Tesla was valued at approximately $155 billion, while his smaller stakes in Neuralink and The Boring Company were collectively valued at approximately $6.75 billion.
Looking at the structure of Musk’s assets, Forbes estimates that the chairman of the board, CEO, and CTO of SpaceX owns 4.8 billion shares of the company worth about $715 billion. In addition, he holds options to purchase another 350 million shares worth about $50 billion. Combined, this gives him a 38% stake in the company, according to Forbes.
