Musk Achieves Historic $749 Billion Net Worth Milestone as First Person in the World to Cross $700 Billion Mark

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has officially become the world’s first billionaire to reach a net worth exceeding $700 billion, following a landmark Delaware Supreme Court ruling that restored his massive $139 billion stock options package. The latest wealth milestone reflects Musk’s expanding empire across multiple sectors.

The pivotal court decision came Friday when the Delaware Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s previous rejection of Musk’s 2018 compensation agreement. What was originally valued at $56 billion at the time of approval has now grown to $139 billion through Tesla’s subsequent stock appreciation. The lower court had previously deemed the package “outrageous,” but the higher court determined that voiding the arrangement was both improper and inequitable to the Tesla executive.

The Path to $700 Billion

Musk’s wealth surge this week was also fueled by developments at SpaceX, his aerospace venture, which is preparing for a potential public listing. Industry observers noted that SpaceX’s anticipated IPO preparations contributed significantly to pushing his overall net worth above the $600 billion threshold earlier this week, creating momentum toward the historic $700 billion barrier.

The court’s reversal of its 2024 decision marks a significant victory for Musk and potentially sets precedent for other tech executives facing similar compensation disputes. The Delaware Supreme Court’s reasoning focused on the fairness of the original process and the legitimacy of performance-based equity awards in the technology sector.

Market and Industry Implications

This ruling carries broader implications for how corporations structure executive compensation packages. The restoration of such substantial equity awards reinforces the use of stock-based incentives for retaining top talent in capital-intensive industries. For Tesla shareholders and the broader investment community, the decision underscores the company’s commitment to its leadership structure and long-term strategic vision.

With the compensation package now officially restored, Musk maintains both his position as the world’s wealthiest individual and unprecedented control over some of the most transformative companies in modern technology. The convergence of Tesla’s market performance and SpaceX’s growth trajectory has positioned him at an unprecedented wealth level in global economic history.