World Business Report Elon Musk: The world's first half-trillionaire
Oct 2, 2025
Elon Musk has made history as the first person to surpass a net worth of $500 billion. The discussion outlines his journey through ventures like Zip2, PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla. Notably, Tesla's impressive sales and rebound in share prices significantly bolstered his wealth. In other news, Morocco faces youth protests over economic issues, and Japan is gearing up for a pivotal leadership race amid beer shortages. Also, concerns arise as BYD experiences its first sales dip, raising questions about the future of the EV market.
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Net Worth Fueled By Tesla And SpaceX
- Elon Musk reached a net worth over $500 billion largely due to Tesla and SpaceX driving equity gains.
- His wealth surge reflects market valuation of tech and space ambitions rather than liquid cash.
From Self-Taught Programmer To Space Founder
- Musk taught himself programming as a child and built his own video game before emigrating and founding startups.
- He sold Zip2 and later PayPal, using proceeds to found SpaceX and pursue rockets and NASA contracts.
Paper Wealth Rides Share Price
- Tesla's market performance drove Musk to the top of rich lists as the company captured investor imagination.
- Rapid share appreciation, not immediate operational cash, produced his staggering paper wealth.