Elon Musk's net worth surpasses $1 trillion after SpaceX goes public, making him the world's first trillionaire.

Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire after SpaceX, the rocket company he founded, went public. His net worth soared past $1 trillion in June 2026, according to the Bloomberg rich list. Musk's wealth is now similar to the entire economic output of Poland or Switzerland.

Early Life and Career

Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and showed entrepreneurial talents from an early age. He developed his first computer game at 12 and later studied economics and physics at the University of Pennsylvania. After college, Musk dropped out of a physics graduate program at Stanford University to found two technology start-ups during the 'dotcom boom' of the 1990s, including a web software firm and an online banking company that eventually became PayPal.

Business Ventures and Wealth

Musk's net worth has been steadily increasing over the years. In October 2025, he became the first person to achieve a net worth of more than half a trillion dollars, according to Forbes. With a 42% ownership stake in SpaceX, Musk has essentially unilateral control over the company. His shares in SpaceX were worth $767.1bn at the close of trade, and he also has significant holdings in Tesla.

Politics and Controversy

Musk has become a powerful and divisive figure in global politics. He has used his social media platform to air his views on various topics, including current affairs and the future of humanity. Musk has also been involved in politics, helping Donald Trump win the 2024 US presidential election and leading the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) for several months. His actions have sparked debate about wealth inequality and have been criticized by several politicians, including US senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.