Elon Musk has made history as the first individual to accumulate a personal fortune exceeding $700 billion, following a landmark decision by the Delaware Supreme Court that restored his long-contested Tesla compensation package.
Data from the Forbes Billionaires Index shows that Musk’s net worth surged to as much as $749 billion late Friday, after stock options worth about $139 billion were reinstated. The move overturned a ruling from last year that had blocked the payout.
The court decision revived Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla pay package, which was initially valued at $56 billion but had been struck down by a lower court that described it as “unfathomable.”
In its ruling, the Delaware Supreme Court held that the 2024 decision to void the compensation plan was improper and inequitable, effectively allowing the package to stand. The judgment represents a major legal win for Musk and underscores continued shareholder support for his leadership at Tesla.
Earlier in the week, Elon Musk had already crossed another milestone by becoming the first person to surpass $600 billion in net worth, a rise partly fueled by reports suggesting SpaceX may be gearing up for a potential public listing.
In November, Tesla shareholders also approved a separate future compensation plan valued at $1 trillion — the largest of its kind in corporate history — signaling strong investor confidence in Musk’s ambition to reposition Tesla as a major force in artificial intelligence and robotics.
With his wealth now outpacing that of Google co-founder Larry Page by nearly $500 billion, Musk has further solidified his status as the richest person in the world.
