Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and other groundbreaking companies, has been named the world's richest person for the second consecutive year on Forbes' 2026 Billionaires List, released today.
With an estimated net worth of $839 billion, Musk achieves a historic milestone as the wealthiest individual ever documented, surpassing all previous records and widening his lead over the rest of the global elite.
The Forbes list, now in its 40th year, captures a snapshot of global wealth using stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1, 2026.
This year's ranking features a record 3,428 billionaires with a combined fortune of $20.1 trillion up $4 trillion from the previous year reflecting booming markets, AI advancements, and innovation-driven growth.
Musk's fortune has surged by approximately $497 billion over the past 12 months, driven by strong performance in Tesla's electric vehicle and energy sectors, escalating valuations at SpaceX (including its February 2026 acquisition of xAI in a deal valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion), and his significant stakes across multiple enterprises.
Musk owns an estimated 12% of Tesla (plus options for additional shares), approximately 43% of SpaceX, and key holdings in xAI and other ventures.
This achievement marks a series of unprecedented milestones for Musk: he became the first person to reach $500 billion in October 2025, crossed $600 billion and $700 billion in December 2025, and hit $800 billion in February 2026. Now at $839 billion, he maintains a commanding lead more than $500 billion ahead of the No. 2 spot held by Google cofounder Larry Page ($257 billion).
"Elon Musk's trajectory represents an extraordinary convergence of innovation, execution, and market momentum," said a Forbes spokesperson.
"His companies are not only reshaping industries like transportation, space exploration, and artificial intelligence but also creating unprecedented value for shareholders and advancing humanity's future."
Musk cofounded seven companies in total, including Tesla (electric vehicles and sustainable energy), SpaceX (reusable rockets and Starlink satellite internet), and xAI (advancing AI to understand the universe).
His leadership continues to push boundaries, with SpaceX preparing for a potential public offering in the coming year and Tesla expanding its autonomous driving and robotics initiatives.
The U.S. dominates the list with a record 989 billionaires, including 15 of the top 20. Musk, 54, resides in Austin, Texas, and holds U.S. citizenship.