Elon Musk has become the first person in history worth more than $800 billion after his rocket company, SpaceX, acquired his artificial intelligence firm xAI in a blockbuster deal that values the combined business at $1.25 trillion.
Forbes estimates the transaction increased Musk’s net worth by $84 billion, lifting his fortune to a record $852 billion. The surge follows SpaceX’s decision to absorb xAI, consolidating Musk’s most ambitious technology ventures under one corporate roof.
Before the deal, Elon Musk held an estimated 42 percent stake in SpaceX, valued at $336 billion, based on a tender offer launched in December that priced the private space company at $800 billion. At the same time, he owned roughly 49 percent of xAI, worth about $122 billion, after a private fundraising round earlier this month valued the AI firm at $250 billion.
After the merger, SpaceX received a valuation of $1 trillion, while xAI maintained its $250 billion valuation. Forbes now estimates Elon Musk owns about 43 percent of the combined company, a stake valued at approximately $542 billion, making SpaceX the most valuable asset in his portfolio.
Tesla remains another major source of Musk’s wealth. He currently owns about 12 percent of the electric vehicle maker, worth an estimated $178 billion, in addition to Tesla stock options valued at roughly $124 billion. That figure excludes a controversial pay package approved by Tesla shareholders in November that could award Elon Musk up to $1 trillion in additional shares if the company meets aggressive long-term performance targets.
The SpaceX-xAI deal marks the second major merger involving Musk in less than a year. In March, he combined xAI with his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in a transaction that valued xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. Elon Musk’s role as both buyer and seller in these transactions has drawn scrutiny over valuation methods, although that scrutiny is expected to intensify once SpaceX proceeds with a planned initial public offering later this year.
Elon Musk’s wealth has grown at an unprecedented pace. In October, he became the first individual worth $500 billion after Tesla shares rallied following his exit from President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. By mid-December, private investors doubled SpaceX’s valuation to $800 billion, pushing Musk past $600 billion. Days later, a ruling by the Delaware Supreme Court reinstating his Tesla stock options lifted his net worth beyond $700 billion.
He now stands $578 billion richer than the world’s second-wealthiest person, Google cofounder Larry Page, whose fortune is estimated at $281 billion. At his current trajectory, Musk is closing in on another milestone that once seemed unimaginable, positioning himself as the leading candidate to become the world’s first trillionaire.
