As economic pressures deepen in many parts of the world, the wealth of South Africa-born Elon Musk has continued to rise sharply, highlighting growing concerns around global inequality.
Musk, 54, the world’s richest person, has built his fortune through a portfolio of high-profile companies across the technology, transport and space sectors.
Central to his wealth
Elon Musk is the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which remain central to his wealth due to their market value and commercial expansion.
He also founded and owns major stakes in several other companies, including xAI, which focuses on developing advanced AI systems, and X Corp, the parent company of the social media platform X.
In addition, Elon Musk co-founded Neuralink, which is developing implantable brain technology, and The Boring Company, which focuses on underground transport and infrastructure solutions.
His wealth is heavily tied to the performance of these companies, particularly Tesla, meaning his net worth can fluctuate significantly based on market conditions and investor sentiment.
Sharp contrast
At the same time, many economies are facing rising living costs, inflationary pressures and slower growth, which have reduced purchasing power for households in several regions.
Economists say this contrast has intensified debates around global wealth inequality and the concentration of capital in large technology firms.
Analysts note that Elon Musk’s business empire spans multiple high-growth industries, including electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, space exploration, social media, brain-computer interfaces and infrastructure development – making him one of the most diversified tech entrepreneurs in the world.
According to the Forbes Real Time billionaires list, Elon Musk’s wealth dwarfs that of the world’s second-richest person, Google co-founder Larry Page, whose fortune is estimated at $269.1 billion – around $540 billion less than Musk’s.
Top 10 richest people in the world
| Rank | Name | Net worth | Source |
| 1 | Elon Musk | $810.9bn | Tesla, SpaceX |
| 2 | Larry Page | $269.1bn | |
| 3 | Jeff Bezos | $256bn | Amazon |
| 4 | Sergey Brin | $248.3bn | |
| 5 | Mark Zuckerberg | $225.1bn | |
| 6 | Larry Ellison | $206.9bn | Oracle |
| 7 | Jensen Huang | $167.3bn | Semiconductors |
| 8 | Michael Dell | $162.3bn | Dell Technologies |
| 9 | Bernard Arnault & family | $151.2bn | LVMH |
| 10 | Rob Walton & family | $142.4bn | Walmart |
Correct as at 19:45 on Tuesday, 14 April 2026
