HH. BREAKING NEWS: Elon Musk Becomes First Person to Hit Half a Trillion — Then Slips Back Below It
Elon Musk briefly cemented his place in financial history on Wednesday, when his net worth surged to an unprecedented $500.1 billion, making him the first person in history to cross the half-trillion mark. By the end of the trading day, however, his fortune had dipped slightly to $499 billion, underscoring the volatility of the markets that continue to fuel his immense wealth.
The billionaire’s fortune stems primarily from Tesla, where Musk holds a 12% stake, along with his other ventures including SpaceX and xAI. The only individual even remotely in Musk’s orbit is Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who trails with a net worth of $350.7 billion — a staggering $150 billion gap.
Tesla’s stock has been the key driver of Musk’s wealth, climbing 3.3% on Wednesday and posting more than 20% gains this year, despite intensifying global competition from Chinese rival BYD. Analysts say investor confidence in Tesla’s long-term innovation — particularly in AI-driven robotics and autonomous systems — has been a major factor in the stock’s resilience.
But what may be most eye-catching is Musk’s potential future compensation package at Tesla, which insiders suggest could be valued at over $1 trillion if the company hits its bold targets. Those include selling one million AI robots, a vision that would not only redefine Tesla’s business model but also the global tech landscape.
While Musk’s time as the world’s first half-trillionaire may have lasted only hours, the milestone is a stark reminder of his dominance in the modern economy — and the staggering possibilities of where his empire may head next.
