South Africa-born Elon Musk has made history once again, becoming the first person in the world to amass a fortune exceeding $700 billion, just days after crossing the $600 billion mark.
The milestone follows a ruling by the Delaware Supreme Court on Friday that overturned a lower court decision which had invalidated a massive Tesla stock options award granted to Musk in 2018.
The court found that rescinding the options was an “improper remedy,” effectively reinstating an award now valued at $139 billion.
According to Forbes, Elon Musk’s net worth surged to an estimated $749 billion after the ruling.
Discounted the value of disputed Tesla stock
The publication had previously discounted the value of the disputed Tesla stock options by 50% following a January 2024 decision by the Delaware Court of Chancery, which ruled that the award process was unfair due to Musk’s influence over Tesla’s board.
With that discount removed, Forbes increased Elon Musk’s net worth estimate by $69.5 billion.
Tesla has once again become Musk’s most valuable asset.
In addition to the reinstated stock options, Musk owns about 12% of Tesla’s common stock, valued at roughly $199 billion, bringing the total value of his Tesla holdings to approximately $338 billion.
This figure does not include a separate, unprecedented compensation package approved by Tesla shareholders in November.
That package could eventually grant Elon Musk up to $1 trillion in additional Tesla stock – before taxes and performance conditions – if the company meets ambitious long-term targets, including an eightfold increase in market capitalisation over the next decade.
Based on a private tender offer
Elon Musk’s second-largest asset is his estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, currently valued at around $336 billion.
The valuation is based on a private tender offer launched this month that placed SpaceX’s worth at $800 billion, up from $400 billion in August.
SpaceX is reportedly targeting an initial public offering in 2026, which could value the company at as much as $1.5 trillion.
While Tesla currently edges out SpaceX as Musk’s most valuable holding, analysts suggest the rocket maker could ultimately propel him to become the world’s first trillionaire.
Elon Musk’s wealth now dwarfs that of the world’s second-richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page, whose fortune is estimated at $253 billion – nearly $500 billion less than Musk’s.
Top 10 richest people in the world
Correct prior to Delaware Supreme Court ruling
| Rank | Name | Net worth | Source |
| 1 | Elon Musk | $679.3bn | Tesla, SpaceX |
| 2 | Larry Page | $252.6bn | |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | $242.7bn | Oracle |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos | $239.4bn | Amazon |
| 5 | Sergey Brin | $233.1bn | |
| 6 | Mark Zuckerberg | $225.8bn | |
| 7 | Bernard Arnault & family | $190.6bn | LVMH |
| 8 | Jensen Huang | $157.2bn | Semiconductors |
| 9 | Steve Ballmer | $147.8bn | Microsoft |
| 10 | Warren Buffett | $147.1bn | Berkshire Hathaway |
Correct as at 12:15 on Saturday, 20 December 2025
