This businessman is now the richest, his combined wealth is more than 3 billionaires
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk became the first person with a net worth to surpass $700 billion after the Delaware Supreme Court decided to reinstate the substantial $56 billion pay package he received from Tesla in 2018, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings.
According to the data, the billionaire, whose net worth is $749 billion, surpasses the combined wealth of the next three tech billionaires on the list, including Google’s Larry Page ($252.6 billion), Oracle’s Larry Ellison ($242.7 billion) and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ($239.4 billion). He surpasses Larry Page alone by nearly $500 billion.
Meanwhile, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI), Musk’s net worth stood at $642 billion.
What caused Musk’s recent increase in wealth?
The latest increase in Elon Musk’s net worth follows the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision on December 19 (US time) to reinstate $139 billion worth of Tesla stock options that were voided the previous year, according to Forbes.
The $56 billion compensation package from 2018 was reintroduced last week after two years of dispute. The same court had previously described the large salary package as “inappropriate and unfair” in a 2024 decision.
Earlier this month, Elon Musk hit the $600 billion milestone after reports that his rocket company SpaceX was expected to list.
Before that, Tesla shares rose, which also boosted Elon Musk’s fortune after its board approved a historic $1 trillion pay package for the billionaire in early November.
Will Musk become a trillionaire soon?
Tesla’s $1 trillion pay package, approved on November 6, 2025, could make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. The 10-year plan is divided into 12 phases that are “unlocked” as Musk reaches certain milestones. Lower levels are relatively easy to reach and, once unlocked, provide nearly guaranteed payouts to Elon Musk regardless of whether tougher goals are met or not, the AP reported.
Where does Elon Musk’s wealth come from?
Elon Musk founded seven companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and xAI.
He owns approximately 12% of Tesla, which he first invested in in 2004 and has led as CEO since 2008. In 2024, a Delaware judge invalidated Musk’s 2018 agreement to acquire options representing an additional 9% of Tesla.
Referring to a private tender offer in December 2025, the report stated that SpaceX, founded in 2022, has a valuation of $ 800 billion. It is stated that Musk owns an estimated 42% of the shares.
Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 in a deal worth $44 billion (enterprise value). It merged it with xAI in March, creating a combined company worth about $125 billion, including debt.
Musk also founded tunneling startup The Boring Company and brain implant company Neuralink. Together, these initiatives have raised nearly $2 billion in funding from private investors.
