Any notion of a close race for the title of the world’s richest person was put to rest this week as Elon Musk’s net worth blew past the $500 billion mark. The achievement leaves his nearest rival, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, in a distant second place, solidifying Musk’s status as the undisputed champion of wealth.
While Ellison did briefly claim the top spot on Bloomberg’s billionaires index in September, it was a fleeting moment. Musk has since reclaimed his position with a vengeance. The latest figures show a vast gulf between them: Bloomberg calculates Musk’s fortune at $470 billion, a full $121 billion ahead of Ellison’s $349 billion. Forbes puts Musk even higher at $499 billion.
The source of this incredible surge is the powerhouse performance of Tesla. The electric automaker’s stock is up 13% this year, pushing its valuation past the $1.5 trillion level. This rally, fueled by record Q3 deliveries of 497,099 vehicles, has directly inflated the value of Musk’s 12% stake.
Musk’s advantage is further compounded by his portfolio of high-value private companies. With SpaceX reportedly targeting a $400 billion valuation and xAI already pegged at $75 billion, he possesses assets with growth potential that few, if any, other billionaires can match.
The brief challenge from Ellison in September now looks like a minor blip in a year of absolute dominance. By crossing the half-trillion-dollar threshold, Musk has not just won the current race; he has lapped the competition and is now running a victory lap in a league of his own.
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