Elon Musk became the first person in history to surpass the $500 billion mark. The key factor was the rise in Tesla shares, which rose nearly 4%. As a result, Musk's net worth increased by $9.3 billion in just one day. By the close of trading on October 1, his net worth had declined slightly to around $499 billion, but the achievement itself has already made history.
According to Forbes, the current record isn't the limit. If the trend continues, the businessman could become the world's first trillionaire by the spring of 2033.
Today, Musk has significantly surpassed Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, leaving him a whopping $150 billion behind. However, the billionaire's competitors are clearly lagging behind: since March 2020, Musk's net worth has increased more than 20-fold, from $24.6 billion to its current level.
While Tesla remains the billionaire's calling card (his stake in the company is valued at $191 billion), the lion's share of his wealth also comes from SpaceX. Founded by Musk in the early 2000s, the company is now valued at $400 billion, and he personally owns 42% of the shares.
Despite his financial success, the entrepreneur's life hasn't been without high-profile scandals. His name has repeatedly found itself at the center of controversy, from his involvement in the Epstein case to his marital disputes with his ex-wives and children. Musk has 13 children, and his relationships with them are far from always smooth.