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Elon Musk continues to be recognized as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals in 2026, with a significant portion of his wealth derived from his involvement with companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, X, Neuralink, and xAI. Over the preceding two years, Musk has also been a focal point of political discourse due to his close association with Donald Trump and his leadership role within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). On May 28, 2025, Musk declared the conclusion of his tenure as a Special Government Employee in the Trump administration, posting on X, “I want to express my gratitude to President @realDonaldTrump for the chance to curb unnecessary expenditures,” and further remarked, “the @DOGE initiative will only gain strength over time as it becomes ingrained in government operations.”
Since that time, Musk has persistently made headlines for both his business undertakings and public pronouncements. Following SpaceX’s submission for its much-anticipated IPO in May 2026, the company achieved its highly successful public debut the subsequent month, marking one of the most substantial offerings in history. The IPO momentarily valued SpaceX at over $2 trillion, contributing to Musk’s ascension to trillionaire status and further amplifying his already immense fortune. Concurrently, Tesla, X, and xAI are still under examination regarding artificial intelligence, autonomous driving systems, and Musk’s increasingly divisive public persona.
Delve deeper into Musk’s net worth and other relevant details below.
What Is Elon Musk’s Net Worth?
As per Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List at the moment of this writing, Musk currently possesses an estimated net worth of $1.1 trillion, positioning him as the wealthiest person globally. A substantial part of Musk’s wealth originates from his ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to his holdings in X, xAI, and Neuralink.
Musk’s financial standing reached unparalleled heights in 2026 after SpaceX’s landmark initial public offering, which briefly pushed the company’s valuation beyond the $2 trillion mark and solidified his distinction as the planet’s first trillionaire.
Prior to achieving the trillion-dollar milestone, Musk garnered attention in 2024 as the first individual to surpass a net worth of $400 billion. His wealth has continued its upward trajectory as his enterprises expand across the aerospace, AI, automotive, and social media sectors.
How Did Elon Musk Make His Money?
A considerable portion of Musk’s net worth is attributed to his 12% ownership in Tesla, representing approximately 412 million shares. He has utilized 58% of his Tesla shares as collateral for personal loans amounting to $3.5 billion. In 2022, Musk divested $40 billion worth of Tesla stock to help finance his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, which he subsequently rebranded as X. While Musk retains approximately 79% of the company based on its original valuation, Twitter’s value has diminished by nearly 70% as of August 2024.
Musk has also amassed substantial wealth through SpaceX, the aerospace firm he co-founded in 2002. SpaceX has evolved into one of the globe’s most highly valued private enterprises, driven by government contracts, the expansion of its Starlink satellite internet service, and commercial space launches. In May 2026, SpaceX formally submitted its application for its highly anticipated IPO, with projections suggesting a potential company valuation close to $1.75 trillion.
In addition to Tesla and SpaceX, Musk holds ownership in companies like xAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. His artificial intelligence venture, xAI, has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2023 and has become a pivotal component of Musk’s expanding technological empire, particularly following its deeper integration with X and SpaceX operations.
Who Are the Richest People in the World?
According to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List as of today, the world’s wealthiest individuals are: