Elon Musk became the first individual in history to amass a personal fortune of $600 billion on Monday, according to Forbes, driven largely by soaring valuations tied to his private space company SpaceX and renewed momentum across his business empire. The milestone underscores Musk’s growing dominance at the intersection of technology, transportation and artificial intelligence.
Musk, who first crossed the $500 billion net-worth threshold in October, owns an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, which is preparing for a potential public listing as early as next year. Reports indicate the rocket and satellite company could go public at a valuation of roughly $800 billion, a move that would dramatically reshape global equity markets and further cement Musk’s position as the world’s richest person.
Based on that projected valuation, Forbes estimates Musk’s net worth climbed by $168 billion, reaching about $677 billion by midday Monday. SpaceX, best known for its Falcon rockets and Starlink satellite network, has emerged as the single largest driver of Musk’s wealth, surpassing even his long-standing ties to Tesla.
Musk’s fortune has also been bolstered by his holdings in Tesla, where he owns roughly 12% of the electric-vehicle maker. Despite slowing sales, Tesla shares have risen about 13% so far this year. The stock jumped nearly 4% on Monday after Musk said the company was testing robotaxis without safety monitors in the front passenger seat, signaling progress toward fully autonomous driving.
In November, Tesla shareholders approved a sweeping compensation package for Musk valued at $1 trillion, the largest corporate pay deal ever authorized. Investors backed the plan as Musk pitched an ambitious strategy to transform Tesla from a carmaker into a leader in artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems.
Beyond Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s artificial-intelligence startup xAI is also fueling his wealth surge. The company is reported to be in advanced talks to raise $15 billion in new equity at a valuation of $230 billion, highlighting investor appetite for Musk-led ventures at a time of intense competition in the AI sector.
Musk and his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
