Elon Musk becomes the world’s richest person after his net worth crosses $700 billion.
What is Elon Musk Net Worth
Elon Musk made history by becoming the first person in the world to exceed $700 billion This news broke on December 20, 2025 The Delaware Supreme Court reinstated his 2018 salary package. This increased his wealth by $139 billion, making his total net worth $749 billion This achievement is a major victory for him. He is now the world’s richest person His wealth is approximately $500 billion more than the second-richest person. This development is also significant for Tesla shareholders. Musk has taken Tesla beyond electric cars and into an AI and robotics company, and his salary package is a reward for this success People are now wondering if he will soon become a trillionaire Rumors of a SpaceX IPO are also increasing his wealth Let’s explore this topic in detail.
Elon Musk Life and Career on Net Worth
Elon Musk was born in South Africa in 1971. He was interested in science and technology since childhood. He studied in Canada and the United States. In the 1990s, he started Zip2, which he sold, and then created PayPal, which was acquired by eBay This earned him a good amount of money In 2002, Musk started SpaceX, a company focused on space travel Then, in 2004, he joined Tesla, which manufactures electric cars Musk made it the world’s most valuable car company.
He also started Neuralink and the Boring Company, which works on connecting brains and computers The Boring Company builds tunnels. Furthermore, Musk’s vision is always big He wants to establish a colony on Mars He promotes electric vehicles to combat climate change, and his companies are transforming the world. But he also faces controversies His posts on social media often make headlines He acquired X (formerly Twitter), and now calls it a free speech platform.
What was his 2018 salary package?
In 2018, Tesla offered Musk a special salary package This was based on stock options with a base value of $56 billion However, this was only available if Tesla achieved certain goals, such as increasing its market cap and revenue Musk did not receive any salary He relied solely on stock options, and the package was approved by shareholders. Its purpose was to encourage Musk and to transform Tesla into AI and robotics Musk stated that this package was good for the company, and if Tesla succeeded, everyone would benefit. And that’s exactly what happened Tesla’s shares rose The value of the package reached $139 billion, which some shareholders felt was unfair They argued that the board was under Musk’s control, making the package unfair This dispute reached the court
The legal battle began of what is Elon Musk Net Worth?
In 2024, the Delaware Chancery Court annulled the package, which the judge called “unimaginable He stated that the process was not fair and that Musk dominated the board Shareholders were not fully informed This reduced Musk’s wealth, leading Forbes to discount the value of the options by 50% Musk appealed, arguing that the decision was wrong Shareholders had approved the package, so the cancellation was unfair. The case reached the Delaware Supreme Court, where a hearing was held Musk’s lawyers presented their arguments Opponents also presented their views Meanwhile, Tesla prepared a new package Then, in November 2025, shareholders approved a $1 trillion package, making it the largest in history But the old package was still significant.
What happened with the recent court decision?
On December 19, 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a ruling, overturning the lower court’s decision. The court stated that the cancellation was unfair and a disproportionate punishment for Musk The shareholder approval was valid, and Tesla shares rose following the decision Musk’s wealth immediately increased Forbes estimated his wealth at $749 billion, marking the first time anyone has surpassed $700 billion Just four days ago, he had surpassed $600 billion, but then the court ruled the cancellation was wrong This is a major victory for Musk Now, the package has been fully restored, and his wealth has been impacted.
He has reached $749 billion, which is how Forbes calculates his wealth. His 12% stake in Tesla is worth $199 billion, and options are worth $139 billion, making Tesla’s total $338 billion. SpaceX’s $336 billion He also has other companies Before the decision, Forbes had discounted the options Now, that has been removed This resulted in an increase of $69.5 billion. A total of $139 billion was added.
Comparison with other billionaires
Musk’s wealth is $500 billion more than Larry Page. Page, the co-founder of Google, has a net worth of $253 billion, followed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates Musk surpassed everyone Previously, no one had even reached $400 billion, and Musk is projected to reach $300 billion in 2024 It crossed $1.7 trillion Now it’s $700 billion This is a rapid increase This happened due to the shares of Tesla and SpaceX.
Wealth inequality is increasing in the world Musk’s success is an inspiration But critics say that it is not right for one person to have so much wealth. Also, the role of Tesla and SpaceX is that Tesla is no longer just a car company Musk calls it an AI company. Optimus is making robots, then Cybertruck and Model 3 are successful The company’s value is $1.5 trillion. After this, SpaceX is building Starship As it prepares for the Mars mission, the company is valued at $800 billion. An IPO is possible in 2026 This could lead to a valuation of $1.5 trillion Musk’s wealth will increase further.
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