After two years of ranking second, Elon Musk officially regained the position of the richest person on the planet in Forbes’ list of world billionaires in 2025. Not only owning a record fortune of 342 billion USD, Musk also rose to become a figure of great political influence in the US, becoming a close advisor to President Donald Trump.
Elon Musk has returned to the number one spot on Forbes’ billionaires list with a fortune of $ 342 billion , the highest ever recorded by the magazine.
Musk is $118 billion richer than the world’s second-richest person, Mark Zuckerberg—a figure that is larger than the entire fortune of Bill Gates. Bernard Arnault, who overtook Musk two years ago, is now worth half as much, at $178 billion.
Since last year’s list, Musk’s fortune has increased by $147 billion, or 75%. The main reason is the increase in the value of his companies, especially SpaceX, which is now valued at $350 billion, nearly double the previous year. Tesla also increased by 50% in the past year, although it has fallen after a strong rally in late 2024.
In addition to SpaceX and Tesla, Musk has also stepped up investments in artificial intelligence and social networks.
Musk’s xAI raised $6 billion in November 2024, giving it a valuation of $50 billion, double what it had been six months earlier. Musk made a bold acquisition in particular: xAI acquired social network X (formerly Twitter) for $45 billion, $33 billion in equity and $12 billion in debt.
After this deal, xAI was valued at up to $80 billion, bringing the overall value of the company to $113 billion. This is a testament to Musk’s creative financial strategy, when he not only develops technology but also maximizes the value of the assets he owns.
Elon Musk returns to the throne after two years in second place
What is the next ambition of the world’s richest billionaire?
Not only is Elon Musk the richest billionaire in the world, he is also one of the most politically influential figures in the United States.
In the 2024 election, Musk spent nearly $300 million supporting Donald Trump’s campaign, making him a key adviser to the President. He was also appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has significant power over corporate policies .
Musk’s decisions at DOGE seem to directly benefit his companies. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, for example, is close to a $2.4 billion contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Tesla also nearly landed a $400 million order from the U.S. State Department before facing backlash.
Despite being the richest and most powerful person on Earth, Musk still does not hide his ambition to conquer space.
President Trump has vowed to send American astronauts to Mars during his term, and Musk has been unabashed in his support of the plan. He has even joked about sending DOGE, his favorite cryptocurrency, to Mars.
No one can predict what Musk will do next, but with his combination of immense wealth and political influence, he could continue to change both the tech industry and global politics for years to come.
