Elon Musk addressed reports of his becoming a trillionaire in a series of candid posts on X. He reflected that much of his wealth is connected to the stocks he owns in the companies he helped found across space exploration, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. The tech entrepreneur has become a crucial player in elite political and tech circles, drawing millions of dollars in investment into Tesla and SpaceX, driven by increasing government space contracts and strong global EV adoption.
Musk’s tweet was in response to an X user who suggested that Musk becoming a trillionaire would inadvertently lead to wealth creation for others. Here’s how Musk reflected on his net worth.
Everything is not as it seems on the surface, Elon Musk suggests
Speculation around Musk becoming a trillionaire appears to be gaining traction. Responding to a post claiming there was a “75% chance Musk becomes a trillionaire this year,” Musk wrote: “Already have thousands of times over. My ‘net worth’ is almost entirely due to my ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. I have <0.1% that is cash.”
He further stated that Tesla is “>80% owned by retail investors and index/pension funds,” meaning valuation gains largely benefit everyday investors and employees rather than flowing directly into his own pockets.
Already have thousands of times over. My “net worth” is almost entirely due to my ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. I have <0.1% that is cash.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 15, 2026
Tesla and SpaceX employees all receive stock/options and Tesla is >80% owned by retail investors and index/pension funds, so value…
A recent report from Bloomberg suggested Musk is currently the individual closest to reaching trillionaire status, potentially by 2027. The analysis pointed to SpaceX’s soaring private valuation, Tesla’s long-term growth prospects, and Musk’s significant ownership stakes as factors that could eventually push his net worth toward the $1 trillion mark.
Still, the milestone is far from guaranteed. Musk’s fortunes remain tied to market fluctuations, investor sentiment, and regulatory scrutiny. Tesla faces stiff competition in the electric vehicle space, while SpaceX’s positive market projections depend on the successful expansion of Starlink and future missions. Returns on Musk’s newer investments in AI and social platforms also add uncertainty.
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Commenting on why Musk has been able to amass such massive wealth, James Pethokoukis, economic policy analyst for the American Enterprise Institute, noted, “If you look at the list of the richest Americans, whether we’re talking about Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, the reason people get super rich is they start a company and they grow that company.”
“And the reason that company keeps growing and growing is [it’s] producing something valuable that people want,” he further added.
Nevertheless, Musk has dismissed the idea of being a trillionaire, stating quite clearly that the skewed valuation was linked to stocks in the transformative companies he had built rather than personal wealth. Combined with Bloomberg’s projections, his candid remarks highlight how rapidly global wealth is shifting. The Tesla CEO now stands at the forefront of a new era, and his enthusiasm to stretch the limits of human progress through his ambitious projects far outweighs the desire to reach trillionaire status.
Also read: Apple Reportedly in Talks with Elon Musk to Add “Revolutionary” Feature to iPhones
