Elon Musk poses for a photo.
Elon Musk has crossed a financial milestone no one has reached before. The billionaire entrepreneur is now worth more than $600 billion, making him the richest individual in recorded history. The surge follows a dramatic rise in SpaceX’s valuation, pushing Musk closer to an unprecedented trillion-dollar fortune.
SpaceX Valuation Drives Record Net Worth
The turning point came earlier this month. SpaceX launched a tender offer valuing the private space company at $800 billion, according to investors cited by Forbes. That figure doubled from its $400 billion valuation in August.
Musk owns an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX. The jump added roughly $168 billion to his net worth. By Monday afternoon, Forbes estimated Musk’s fortune at $677 billion. No individual has ever crossed the $600 billion mark before.
SpaceX IPO Could Change History
The tender offer aligns with SpaceX’s long-term IPO plans. Investors say the company is targeting a public listing in 2026. That offering could value SpaceX at $1.5 trillion.
If that happens, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire. Even without an IPO, SpaceX is now Musk’s most valuable asset. Forbes estimates his SpaceX stake alone at $336 billion.
Neither Musk nor SpaceX commented publicly on the tender offer or IPO timeline.
Tesla Still a Powerful Wealth Engine
Musk also holds a 12% stake in Tesla, currently valued at about $197 billion. That figure excludes stock options from his controversial 2018 CEO performance award.
A Delaware judge voided those options in January 2024. Musk is appealing the ruling. Forbes has discounted the value of those options by 50%, placing them at $69 billion pending the final decision.
Even if Musk loses the appeal, Tesla may still fuel his trillionaire path.
Tesla’s “Mars Shot” Pay Package
In November, Tesla shareholders approved a historic compensation plan for Musk. The package could grant him up to $1 trillion in stock, before taxes and restrictions.
The payout depends on Tesla achieving ambitious “Mars shot” milestones. These include growing its market capitalization more than eightfold over the next decade.
If successful, Tesla alone could push Musk past the trillion-dollar threshold.
xAI Holdings Adds Another Boost
Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI Holdings, is also gaining traction. The company is reportedly in talks to raise funding at a $230 billion valuation.
That would more than double the $113 billion valuation Musk cited in March. The figure followed the merger of xAI with his social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Forbes estimates Musk owns 53% of xAI Holdings, worth roughly $60 billion today.
A Rapid Rise in Just Five Years
Musk’s wealth growth has been historic. In March 2020, his net worth stood at $24.6 billion. By August that year, Tesla’s rally made him the fifth person ever worth $100 billion.
He became the world’s richest individual in January 2021. His fortune approached $190 billion then.
Musk crossed $200 billion in September 2021. He hit $300 billion two months later. The milestones kept coming: $400 billion in December 2024 and $500 billion in October.
Only Oracle founder Larry Ellison has also touched both the $300 billion and $400 billion marks.
What Comes Next for Elon Musk
Crossing $600 billion cements Elon Musk’s position in financial history. With SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI all scaling rapidly, his wealth trajectory remains unmatched.
The trillionaire question is no longer theoretical. It may only be a matter of timing.
