In a stunning financial twist, Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s fortune skyrocketed to $749 billion on Friday after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated stock options worth $139 billion that had been canceled last year.
Musk’s 2018 compensation package, once pegged at $56 billion, was nullified in 2024 by a lower court, which branded the deal as “unimaginable.” But the Supreme Court ruled this week that revoking it had been both unjust and inequitable, effectively restoring one of the largest executive pay packages in corporate history.
This latest windfall pushes Musk far ahead of Google co-founder Larry Page, placing him nearly $500 billion richerthan the world’s second-wealthiest person.
Earlier this week, Musk became the first human ever to cross the $600 billion net worth threshold, spurred by speculation that his private aerospace venture, SpaceX, could go public soon. Tesla shareholders separately approved a $1 trillion compensation plan for Musk in November, underscoring investor confidence in his audacious ambitions to transform the electric car company into a powerhouse of AI and robotics innovation.
Despite Tesla being his crown jewel, Musk’s stake in SpaceX remains hugely valuable. His 42% share in the rocket company is now estimated at $334 billion, slightly under the value of his Tesla holdings. Industry analysts believe that SpaceX, with a potential IPO in 2026 valued at $1.5 trillion, may ultimately catapult Musk into becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
For now, Musk’s wealth surge is a striking illustration of the high-stakes interplay between corporate governance, shareholder support, and visionary ambition—and it leaves the financial world watching, awestruck
