Elon Musk has officially become the world's first trillionaire, yet he has notably fallen short of solving global hunger. The SpaceX owner and Tesla creator has solidified his place as a dominant figure in internet culture and an idol for many on the far-right political spectrum.
The 'Muskonomy' and His Wealth
The 54-year-old's businesses and influence are so vast that his network is now referred to as the 'Muskonomy'. His stake in SpaceX is valued at approximately $866 billion. Combined with Tesla and other assets, his net worth will surpass $1.1 trillion (or £820 billion) when stock trading begins on Friday.
Musk co-founded several other companies, including brain implant maker Neuralink and tunneling startup The Boring Company. He acquired Twitter for $44 billion, rebranded it as X, and vowed to make it a platform for free speech. The father of 14 was also invited to join Donald Trump's executive team after funding his election campaign, serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, a public fallout over Trump's budget bill led to Musk's resignation, with both exchanging insults on X. This came as Tesla sales declined amid consumer boycotts. Musk then assured investors he would focus more on his businesses, and his wealth continues to grow.
Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth, noted: 'The second richest person has been hovering around $300 billion, so about less than one-third of what Musk could be worth tomorrow. Only one other person, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, has ever been worth $400 billion.'
What $1 Trillion Could Buy
Laid end-to-end, one trillion dollar bills could wrap around the equator 3,890 times and reach from Earth to the Sun. Musk could give every person in the United States $2,917.32, or every person on the planet $121.80. He could erase all global government debt interest, potentially rewriting history. Singapore's entire debt of $1 trillion could be wiped out in one go.
Oxfam estimates $37 billion is needed annually until 2030 to combat extreme and chronic hunger—an amount Musk can easily afford. He famously tweeted he would donate $6 billion to end world hunger if the UN detailed how it would be used. The UN responded with a plan to save 42 million lives, including food procurement and delivery in 43 countries. Musk never replied and did not donate.
Musk could also contribute to fighting disease. Researchers say eradicating malaria is achievable with an extra $2 billion in annual funding by 2050, on top of the $4.3 billion already spent each year. Children's education could also be improved: UNESCO estimates universal schooling globally would require an additional £97 billion annually.
For now, Musk continues to focus on his business. JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon said: 'Elon is the Edison of our time.'
