Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has become the world’s first billionaire to surpass $700 billion in net worth, following a Delaware court’s approval of his disputed 2018 pay package. The court reinstated Musk’s massive stock-based compensation, valued at about $139 billion as on Friday, December 20. This boosted his fortune above $749 billion, according to the Forbes’ billionaires index.
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Last week, Musk’s net worth crossed $600 billion, marking another milestone, after his aerospace firm SpaceX (PC:SPXEX) announced plans to go public in 2026. In November, Tesla shareholders ratified Musk’s $1 trillion pay package, the largest ever, backing his vision to pivot the electric vehicle (EV) company toward AI and robots. Musk’s wealth has skyrocketed due to excitement about Tesla’s future, SpaceX’s soaring valuation, and the boom in AI tech. Yet, his pay and power keep facing criticism and lawsuits.
Here’s What Happened
In 2018, Tesla’s board approved $56 billion pay package for the CEO, which saw huge shareholder backlash and was kept on hold due to litigation. In 2024, the Delaware’s Court of Chancery voided the deal, calling it “excessive” and not in shareholders’ best interest. Following the ruling, Musk moved Tesla’s state of incorporation out of Delaware.
However, on Friday, the state Supreme Court overturned the lower court’s ruling, calling it “too extreme” and faulting it for denying Tesla a fair chance to decide the CEO’s pay. The court stated that rescinding the package left Musk “uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years.”
Musk’s Net Worth Milestones
Here’s a glimpse of how Musk’s net worth has grown over the years.
- 2012 – $2 billion
- 2016 – $10.7 billion
- 2020 – $24.6 billion
- 2022 –$219 billion
- 2024 – $400 billion
- October 2025 – $500 billion
- November 2025 – $600 billion
- December 2025 – $749 billion
Is Tesla Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Analysts remain cautious about Tesla’s long-term prospects amid softening EV sales. On TipRanks, TSLA stock has a Hold consensus rating based on 11 Buys, 12 Holds, and nine Sell ratings. The average Tesla price target of $382.87 implies 20.4% downside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, TSLA shares have gained 19.2%.
