By Uche Usim
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter), is steadily moving toward a historic financial milestone by becoming the world’s first trillionaire in 2027.
A towering figure in technology and business, Musk’s ventures span electric vehicles, space exploration, social media, and even brain-computer interfaces, placing him among the most influential and controversial figures of our time.
Already the wealthiest person on the planet, Musk’s net worth is estimated at nearly $250 billion. CNN quoted a recent analysis by Informa Connect Academy, which stated Musk’s steady progress in wealth.
Musk is projected to cross the trillion-dollar mark by 2027, driven by the explosive growth of his business empire. Informa points to Musk’s wealth growing at an astonishing average rate of 110% per year, making him the most likely candidate to achieve this unprecedented feat.
However, Musk is not without competition in the race to reach trillionaire status. Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, is riding the wave of the artificial intelligence boom, with Nvidia’s chips powering much of the technology.
Huang’s net worth has surged to $104 billion, positioning him as a potential trillionaire by 2028. Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, with vast investments across energy, infrastructure, and commodities, is also on track to reach trillionaire status in the same year.
For Musk, the success of Tesla remains the linchpin of his financial trajectory. Tesla, which Musk founded, has transformed the automotive industry and is now the world’s most valuable carmaker, with a market capitalization of approximately $710 billion—surpassing the combined value of giants like Coca-Cola, Bank of America, and Boeing. Musk’s 13% stake in Tesla, valued at $93 billion, and an additional 303 million stock options tied to his ambitious (and contentious) compensation plan, position Tesla as his most significant asset.
Tesla’s continued dominance in electric vehicles (EVs) and emerging technologies such as self-driving cars and Robotaxis will largely determine Musk’s financial future.
According to Dan Ives, a senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities, Tesla’s innovations will be key to Musk’s ascent to trillionaire status.
“Musk has positioned himself to break new ground in the coming years as Tesla capitalizes on the future of EVs, autonomous driving, and Robotaxis,” Ives remarked in an email to CNN.
But success is not guaranteed as Tesla faces mounting challenges, including competition from lower-priced Chinese automakers and a series of setbacks that saw its stock plummet by two-thirds in 2022.
The company has also had to deal with several recalls, including a significant software recall for its Autopilot feature, affecting nearly all Tesla vehicles on U.S. roads.
Musk’s journey has been marked by moments of crisis, including Tesla’s near-bankruptcy in 2008, when the company narrowly avoided collapse thanks to a last-minute loan.
Musk’s leadership has also attracted scrutiny, most notably in 2018 when he tweeted about securing funding to take Tesla private at $420 a share, a move that led to regulatory fines, legal battles, and his temporary removal as Tesla’s executive chairman.
While the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty, Musk’s unparalleled ambition and ability to revolutionise industries make him a strong contender to become the world’s first trillionaire.
Whether he reaches this milestone will depend on Tesla’s ability to navigate the evolving global marketplace and Musk’s continued ability to push the boundaries of innovation.