Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is the world’s richest person by a significant margin. While some of the other billionaires have watched their wealth decline in 2026, Musk is gaining. Here’s how his net worth stacks up compared to the automotive sector.
The top 10 richest people in the world have lost a combined $45.6 billion in net worth so far in 2026, reflecting declines in technology stocks. Musk has navigated through the trend thanks to the recent merger of SpaceX and xAI, which valued the two companies at $1.25 trillion.
Don’t Miss:
Musk’s stake in the combined company along with his holding in Tesla have pushed his wealth to $672 billion, according to estimates from Bloomberg. His fortune has grown by $53.0 billion in 2026.
To put the Tesla chief’s net worth into perspective, here’s a look at the rival carmakers he could buy based on their current market capitalizations, which doesn’t factor in debt.
Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN): $20 billion market cap
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F): $55 billion market cap
General Motors Company (NYSE:GM): $74 billion market cap
Toyota Motors (NYSE:TM): $382 billion market cap
Those four companies have a combined market capitalization of $531 billion. That means Musk is worth as much as these automotive companies combined, with $141 billion to spare.
Trending: It’s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here’s how everyday investors are getting started.
While the tech mogul may have no interest in acquiring a traditional automotive company or an electric-vehicle rival like Rivian, the illustration shows how far ahead Tesla may be in EV progress and valuation from investors.
Musk became the richest person in the world in January 2021, topping Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. Musk would hold the title for months, losing it several times to Bezos and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault in 2022 and 2024.
The Tesla CEO has held the title fairly consistently over the last two years, briefly losing the title to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison for one day in September 2025 thanks to a huge rise in Oracle stock after its quarterly earnings.
See Also: This AI Helps Fortune 1000 Brands Avoid Costly Ad Mistakes — See Why Investors Are Paying Attention
Musk finished 2025 worth $578.64 billion, adding $187 billion to his wealth. The billionaire has put a good distance between himself and second place Larry Page, who is currently worth an estimated $262 billion. Musk is currently worth more than twice that of the Alphabet co-founder.
