The latest Elon Musk news has sent shockwaves through the global business world. On Friday, Elon Musk officially became the first person in history to reach a net worth of $700 billion. This record-breaking moment came after a major ruling by the Delaware Supreme Court, which restored Musk’s long-disputed Tesla stock options.
The decision instantly added tens of billions of dollars to Musk’s wealth and closed a legal chapter that had been hanging over Tesla and its CEO for nearly two years. For readers following Elon Musk news, this ruling is being seen as one of the most important financial and legal events of the decade.
Elon Musk News Explained: Why the Court Ruling Matters
The story behind this Elon Musk news goes back to 2018, when Tesla approved a performance-based pay package for Musk. Instead of a salary, Musk would earn stock options only if Tesla hit extremely difficult goals related to revenue, profits, and market value.
Tesla succeeded beyond expectations. Its market value soared, and Musk met every target tied to the agreement.
However, in early 2024, a lower Delaware court canceled the deal, calling the approval process unfair to shareholders. That decision temporarily wiped out more than $100 billion from Musk’s estimated net worth and created major uncertainty around executive pay across corporate America.
On Friday, the Delaware Supreme Court reversed that ruling. The justices said Musk had fully earned the stock options and that canceling them was not the right solution. This single decision changed everything in Elon Musk news overnight.
The Numbers Behind Elon Musk’s $700 Billion Net Worth
Once the court restored the Tesla stock options, Musk’s wealth jumped immediately. Financial trackers removed the uncertainty discount that had been applied while the case was unresolved.
Here is a simple breakdown of Musk’s finances following the ruling:
Total Net Worth: About $749 billion
Increase From Court Decision: Around $69.5 billion
Total Value of Tesla Holdings: About $338 billion
Estimated SpaceX Stake Value: Around $336 billion
This data confirms why this Elon Musk news moment is historic. No individual has ever come close to holding this level of personal wealth.
Tesla Returns as Musk’s Most Valuable Asset
For a short time, private valuations suggested that SpaceX might overtake Tesla as Musk’s top asset. But after the court ruling, Tesla reclaimed the top spot.
Musk owns roughly 12% of Tesla’s common shares, now valued at about $199 billion. When combined with the restored stock options, his total Tesla stake is worth approximately $338 billion.
This rise comes as Tesla is shifting its focus beyond electric cars. The company is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, robotics, and self-driving technology. Many investors now believe Tesla’s future value will depend more on software and automation than vehicle sales alone—another key reason this Elon Musk news has captured so much attention.
A Bigger Tesla Pay Plan Could Be Coming
This may not be the end of Musk’s Tesla-related wealth growth. Tesla shareholders have already approved a new performance plan that could reward Musk even more if the company reaches extreme long-term goals.
If Tesla’s market value climbs to $8.5 trillion over the next decade, Musk could receive up to $1 trillion in additional stock. That possibility has fueled more Elon Musk news headlines and intensified debate about executive compensation.
SpaceX and the Push Toward Trillionaire Status
While Tesla sparked the latest jump, SpaceX remains a major force in Musk’s wealth story.
A recent private share sale valued SpaceX at about $800 billion, double its value from just months earlier. Musk owns an estimated 42% of the company, putting his SpaceX stake near $336 billion.
Industry insiders believe SpaceX could be the company that pushes Musk past the $1 trillion mark. A rumored IPO around 2026 could value SpaceX at $1.5 trillion or more. If that happens, Elon Musk news may soon include the phrase “world’s first trillionaire.”
Elon Musk News Compared to Other Billionaires
To understand the scale of Musk’s wealth, it helps to compare him to the world’s second-richest person, Larry Page.
Page’s estimated net worth is about $253 billion—an enormous sum by any standard. Yet Musk now leads him by nearly $500 billion. The gap is so large that Musk’s personal fortune is bigger than the annual economic output of several developed countries.
This comparison shows why the current Elon Musk news cycle feels different from typical billionaire rankings.
What the Ruling Means for Corporate America
Beyond Musk himself, the Delaware Supreme Court decision could change how companies handle executive pay. The ruling sends a clear message: if leaders agree to difficult performance goals and meet them, courts are unlikely to step in later and undo those deals.
For Musk, the decision is also personal. After the lower court ruling in 2024, he publicly criticized Delaware and moved Tesla’s legal headquarters to Texas. Even so, Delaware’s highest court ultimately delivered a victory that reshaped modern Elon Musk news.
What’s Next in Elon Musk News?
As the dust settles, Elon Musk news is now focused on what Musk does next. With unmatched financial resources, he is pushing forward on multiple fronts—electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, robotics, and space exploration.
The restored Tesla stock options removed the biggest legal obstacle standing in his way. With Tesla and SpaceX both growing rapidly, Musk’s path toward the $1 trillion mark now looks more realistic than ever.
For now, one thing is certain: this chapter of Elon Musk news has already secured its place in history, marking the moment when Elon Musk became the first $700 billion man the world has ever seen.