New York, Dec 17: Elon Musk has crossed the $600 billion mark in personal wealth, becoming the richest individual in recorded history after a surge in the valuation of SpaceX, Forbes reported.
The private rocket company’s latest tender offer values SpaceX at about $800 billion, adding roughly $168 billion to Musk’s net worth and pushing his fortune to an estimated $677 billion, according to the report.
Musk holds a 42% stake in SpaceX, which is planning a public listing in 2026 that could value the company at close to $1.5 trillion.
Forbes said the milestone caps a dramatic rise in Musk’s wealth over a short period. As recently as March 2020, his net worth was pegged at $24.6 billion.
Tesla, another key pillar of Musk’s fortune, has also contributed. Musk owns about 12% of the electric vehicle maker, whose shares are up 13% this year. The stock rose nearly 4% after Musk revealed that Tesla had begun testing autonomous robotaxis without front-seat safety drivers.
“We’re testing with no safety monitor in the front seat,” Musk said, describing the move as a major step toward full autonomy.
In November, Tesla shareholders approved a compensation package valued at about $1 trillion for Musk, underscoring investor support for his strategy to expand the company into AI-driven robotics.
Beyond Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s AI venture xAI is seeking to raise $15 billion at a reported valuation of $230 billion, further boosting his standing among global billionaires.
Musk now holds a lead of about $425 billion over second-ranked Larry Page and sits just $23 billion below $700 billion, reinforcing his position at the top of the global wealth rankings.
