TLDR
- Elon Musk became the first person in history to achieve a net worth exceeding $500 billion in October 2025
- Tesla stock rose nearly 17% year-to-date through October 2, 2025, driving most of the wealth increase
- Musk owns 19.7% of Tesla and 42% of SpaceX, which is valued at $400 billion
- Tesla shareholders will vote in November on a new pay package that could be worth nearly $1 trillion if certain milestones are met
- The pay package could push Musk’s total net worth over $1 trillion if approved and targets are achieved
Elon Musk reached a new wealth milestone in October 2025, becoming the first person to achieve a net worth of $500 billion. The Tesla CEO’s fortune grew largely due to rising Tesla stock prices.
Tesla shares climbed nearly 17% year-to-date as of October 2, 2025. The electric vehicle maker’s stock had gained more than 60% throughout 2024. Some of those gains came after President Trump won the November election.
Musk holds 19.7% of Tesla’s equity as of August 2025, making him the company’s largest shareholder. He also owns 42% of SpaceX, the rocket manufacturing company that supplies the International Space Station for NASA.
SpaceX reached a valuation of $400 billion in July 2025, making it the most valuable startup globally. The company has launched over 400 rockets since its founding in 2002. Its Starlink internet service now has more than 4 million subscribers.
A December 2024 insider share sale at SpaceX added about $50 billion to Musk’s net worth. This transaction helped push his total wealth past the half-trillion dollar mark.
Proposed Pay Package Could Add Nearly $1 Trillion
Tesla filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission about a new compensation plan for Musk. The pay package could be worth nearly $1 trillion if Musk meets specific valuation and operations targets over the next 10 years.
Shareholders are scheduled to vote on this proposal in November. If approved and the milestones are achieved, the additional Tesla shares could push Musk-owned stock to a value exceeding $2 trillion.
Musk became Tesla’s CEO in 2008 after joining the company’s board in 2004. He invested in the electric vehicle maker and later gained the title of cofounder through an out-of-court settlement. The company went public in June 2010.
Other Business Holdings
Beyond Tesla and SpaceX, Musk owns stakes in several other companies. He founded xAI, an artificial intelligence firm, in 2023. The company was seeking funding in July 2025 that would value it at up to $200 billion.
Elon Musk owns about 54% of xAI. The company raised $10 billion through loans and cash investments in June, followed by a $300 million share sale in July.
He purchased Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022 after threatening a hostile takeover. Musk rebranded the social media platform as X in July 2023. Fidelity estimated X’s value at about $9.4 billion in September 2024.
Musk also founded The Boring Company, a construction firm focused on building tunnels. The company raised $675 million in April 2022 at a $5.7 billion valuation.
He co-founded Neuralink, which develops brain-computer interface technology. The company launched its first human trial in January 2024. Neuralink was valued at an estimated $9 billion after raising $600 million earlier this year.
Musk’s current net worth exceeds other billionaires including Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison. Tesla shareholders will vote on the proposed pay package in November 2025.
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