Elon Musk’s empire stretches across industries as diverse as electric vehicles, space exploration, social media, and even brain-computer interfaces.
This remarkable breadth of influence has not only cemented his status as the world’s richest person—with a fortune hovering around $250 billion—but it may soon push him to an even greater financial milestone: becoming the world’s first trillionaire. According to Informa Connect Academy, Musk is on track to hit the trillion-dollar mark as early as 2027, thanks to the rapid growth of his net worth, which has been increasing at an average rate of 110% per year.
This projection underscores Musk’s dominance in the global business landscape. From his leadership at Tesla to his ventures with SpaceX and Neuralink, Musk’s entrepreneurial activities have made him both an admired innovator and a controversial figure. While the possibility of him reaching trillionaire status is notable, it is far from guaranteed and will depend on several factors, particularly the future of his most successful venture to date: Tesla.
Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) company Musk founded, is the crown jewel of his portfolio. Today, Tesla stands as the world’s most valuable car manufacturer, with a market capitalization of around $710 billion, surpassing giants like Coca-Cola, Bank of America, and Boeing. Musk owns approximately 13% of Tesla, a stake valued at about $93 billion at current prices, along with another 303 million stock options tied to his highly debated and controversial compensation package. If Tesla continues its upward trajectory, the company’s success alone could propel Musk’s wealth beyond $1 trillion.
Dan Ives, a senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities, believes Tesla has the potential to unlock new growth opportunities that could boost Musk’s fortune even further. “We believe Musk has positioned himself to achieve new heights over the coming years as Tesla capitalizes on full self-driving, Robotaxis, and the future of EVs,” Ives told CNN. These advancements could significantly expand Tesla’s market reach and drive both revenue and stock performance.
However, Musk’s path to becoming the world’s first trillionaire is fraught with challenges. Tesla faces fierce competition, especially from lower-cost rivals in China. Additionally, the company has experienced several setbacks, including a sharp decline in sales in 2022, which led to a two-thirds drop in its stock price. Tesla has also been plagued by vehicle recalls, including a software glitch in its Autopilot feature that led to a recall of nearly all Tesla cars on U.S. roads. Such issues have cast doubt on the company’s ability to maintain its rapid growth and have raised questions about Musk’s ability to navigate Tesla through tough times.
Musk has faced adversity with Tesla before. In 2008, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy and only survived thanks to a last-minute loan. In 2018, Musk found himself in hot water with regulators after claiming he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share, a statement that ultimately led to fines and legal repercussions. Despite these setbacks, Musk has demonstrated resilience. Ives noted, “Musk has had his back against the wall many times with Tesla, and despite the haters and skeptics, he turned Tesla around. He is the Teflon kid.”
Tesla isn’t Musk’s only asset. His ventures with SpaceX, The Boring Company, and Neuralink also contribute to his wealth. SpaceX, the private aerospace company Musk founded, has revolutionized space travel with its reusable rockets and recently achieved a major milestone by conducting the first non-government spacewalk. SpaceX is valued at around $210 billion, and Musk owns roughly 42% of the company. Meanwhile, Neuralink is pushing boundaries in neurotechnology, developing brain-computer interfaces that could potentially help paralyzed individuals regain movement.
One of Musk’s more controversial assets is the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which he acquired in 2022 for $44 billion. Since taking over, Musk’s management of X has been marked by criticism, particularly concerning content moderation and the spread of misinformation. Under his leadership, the platform has also seen a decline in value. Musk’s personal posts, which have included antisemitic comments and inflammatory remarks, have further strained relationships with advertisers and tarnished the platform’s reputation. At one point, Musk apologized for what he called his “dumbest” social media post, only to later tell advertisers, “Go f**k yourself.”
Despite these controversies, Musk’s business ventures continue to thrive overall, and his diverse portfolio positions him as the frontrunner in the race to become the first trillionaire. Yet, he isn’t without competition. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, whose company has been at the forefront of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, could become a trillionaire by 2028, according to Informa Connect. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani is also a contender, with projections suggesting he could reach trillionaire status by 2028 as well.
Ultimately, whether Elon Musk reaches the trillion-dollar mark first—or at all—will depend on the continued success of his businesses, especially Tesla. While there are no guarantees, Musk’s proven ability to defy the odds and shape industries suggests that he may indeed be the first to join the ranks of trillionaires.
