Elon Musk has made history by becoming the first individual to achieve a net worth that exceeds $500 billion. This unprecedented milestone reflects the rising valuations of his flagship company, Tesla, along with his other ventures such as SpaceX and the AI startup xAI.
Musk's net worth peaked at $500.1 billion on Wednesday, before adjusting slightly to over $499 billion later the same day, according to the Forbes billionaires index.
With Tesla shares climbing by over 20% this year, the increase in Musk's wealth reinforces his position as the richest person in the world, ahead of competitors like Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who has a fortune of about $350.7 billion.
Investors have responded positively, favoring Musk's return to focusing on his companies rather than his political endeavors. Tesla shares rose over 3.3% just before the end of trading on Wednesday, buoyed by optimism surrounding Musk's commitment to driving the company forward.
Musk's substantial wealth is primarily linked to a 12% stake he holds in Tesla, which has seen notable gains this year. The potential for even further financial success is hinted at by a potential pay package exceeding $1 trillion, if Musk meets ambitious targets over the next decade.
Moreover, Musk's recent investments, including purchasing $1 billion worth of Tesla shares, further indicate that investor confidence in the company remains strong, despite facing growing competition from rivals such as BYD in the electric vehicle market.
As Musk's ventures continue to evolve, particularly in the realms of AI and robotics, it will be intriguing to see the direction he takes in the coming years.