Musk Shatters Records with $600bn Fortune

Elon Musk has etched his name into the annals of financial history, becoming the first individual to surpass a net worth of $600 billion. The Tesla and SpaceX chief reached the unprecedented milestone on Monday, December 15, 2025, according to Forbes estimates, effectively resetting the global scale of personal wealth. This historic surge added an estimated $168 billion to his fortune in a single day, widening the gap between Musk and the world’s second-richest person to more than $400 billion.

The primary catalyst for this massive wealth explosion is the skyrocketing valuation of SpaceX. The aerospace giant, which Musk founded in 2002, recently held an internal secondary share sale that valued the company at a staggering $800 billion. With Musk controlling approximately 42% of the private firm, his stake in SpaceX alone is now estimated to be worth roughly $336 billion, surpassing even his holdings in Tesla. Financial analysts suggest this is merely the beginning of a larger trajectory; with SpaceX reportedly preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) as early as mid-to-late 2026, some investors anticipate the company could reach a $1.5 trillion valuation, potentially making Musk the world’s first trillionaire.

While SpaceX provided the biggest leap, Musk’s automotive juggernaut, Tesla Inc., continues to be a cornerstone of his empire. Despite facing a year of flagging sales in the broader electric vehicle market, Tesla’s shares have climbed 13% so far in 2025. On Monday, the stock closed up 3.6% at $475.31—nearing its all-time high—following Musk’s announcement that the company is now testing fully driverless robotaxis without safety monitors in the front seat. This bullish momentum reflects investor confidence in Musk’s vision of transforming Tesla into a dominant force in artificial intelligence and robotics, a strategy further solidified by shareholders’ recent approval of a historic $1 trillion compensation package.

The expansion of Musk’s empire extends into the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. His startup, xAI, is currently in advanced discussions to raise $15 billion in fresh equity at a valuation of $230 billion. This figure more than doubles the company’s valuation from earlier this year, positioning it as a formidable rival to industry leaders like OpenAI. Funds from this round are reportedly earmarked for the expansion of the “Colossus” supercomputer in Memphis, which Musk aims to scale to one million GPUs. From the vacuum of space to the cutting edge of AI, Musk’s interconnected network of companies has created a wealth-generating engine that defies modern economic precedents, solidifying his status as the wealthiest person in recorded history.