Elon Musk’s net worth blasted past $600 billion—and then $700 billion—in 2025, capping a year in which the valuations of his companies and a decisive court ruling combined to rewrite record books.
The first big jolt came in mid-December when a private share sale set SpaceX's insider sale pegged the company at $800 billion, according to disclosures reported at the time. Because Musk owns roughly 42% of SpaceX, the move instantly added well over $100 billion to his estimated fortune and pushed him to a world-first: a $600 billion net worth on December 15, 2025, by Forbes’ tally. Reuters noted the milestone and the market’s growing anticipation of a possible SpaceX IPO in 2026.
Just days later, a separate catalyst arrived. On December 20, 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated stock options from Musk’s 2018 Tesla pay package that had been voided by a lower court. With those options restored—valued at about $139 billion—Musk’s wealth leapt again, making him the first person to crest $700 billion, with estimates around $749 billion. Reuters detailed the ruling’s immediate effect on his standing at the top of the global rich list. Delaware’s high court restored Tesla options worth about $139 billion, accelerating an already historic run.
Musk’s 2025 surge reflected multiple fronts: a resurgent Tesla stock, SpaceX’s extraordinary private valuation and momentum toward a public listing, and the continued buildout of his AI venture, xAI, which has been in funding talks at a far higher valuation than earlier in the year, according to media reports cited by Reuters. Investors also reaffirmed their commitment to Musk’s leadership at Tesla. On November 6, 2025, shareholders approved a new compensation framework that could grant him a vast tranche of stock if exceptionally ambitious performance targets are met. Shareholders also backed a potential $1 trillion pay plan, underscoring expectations that Tesla will evolve far beyond cars into AI and robotics.
All eyes now turn to execution. SpaceX is exploring an IPO as early as 2026, though timing and valuation remain uncertain. Tesla’s newly approved incentives hinge on long-term milestones that will take years to validate. After a year when Musk’s wealth “went orbital,” the question for 2026 is whether the underlying businesses can match the hype—and whether markets will continue to reward that trajectory.