Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dramatically extended his lead as the world’s richest person, with his net worth now eclipsing the combined fortunes of India’s top two wealthiest individuals by more than four times. According to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings, Musk’s net worth reached an extraordinary $749 billion as of December 21, 2025, underscoring how his wealth has surged to levels few could have imagined just a few years ago.
The eye-popping figure places Musk well ahead of his nearest rivals not only in India but across the globe. Combined, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Adani Group founder Gautam Adani, India’s richest men, hold a total estimated wealth of roughly $180 billion, a fraction of Musk’s staggering fortune. Ambani’s holdings sit at approximately $113.7 billion, while Adani’s is around $66.7 billion, according to the Forbes data cited.
Musk’s immense wealth is largely anchored in his significant ownership stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. He holds about 12 per cent of Tesla, the electric vehicle maker he has led for nearly two decades, and an estimated 42 per cent stake in SpaceX, the private rocket company now valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. These flagship businesses have benefited from robust growth in electric vehicle demand and renewed investor enthusiasm for space technology, propelling Musk’s net worth higher.
Beyond Tesla and SpaceX, Musk’s financial empire includes ventures in artificial intelligence and social media. His acquisition of Twitter in 2022, later merged with his AI initiative xAI, remains part of his broader strategy to influence emerging tech sectors, although the precise valuation of that business is more difficult to quantify.
By contrast, Ambani and Adani have built their wealth through sprawling conglomerates rooted in traditional industries. Ambani’s Reliance Industries spans energy, petrochemicals, retail and telecommunications, with its telecom arm Jio boasting hundreds of millions of subscribers and poised for an anticipated stock market listing. The company is also investing heavily in renewable energy projects. Adani’s empire centers on infrastructure, including ports, airports, and power generation, sectors that have underpinned his rise as one of India’s most influential business figures.
Globally, Musk’s dominance is reflected in the broader billionaire ecosystem, where a handful of tech magnates have climbed to the top of wealth rankings in recent years. After briefly losing the title of richest person in the world to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison earlier in 2025, Musk has regained the top spot, illustrating the volatility and scale of wealth among the ultra-rich.
The vast gap between Musk’s net worth and that of major Indian tycoons shines a spotlight on the widening disparities in global wealth distribution. While India’s richest continue to command significant influence and economic power within the country and region, their fortunes remain modest in comparison to the richest individuals on the global stage. Observers say such disparities highlight broader economic forces at work, including the outsized returns tech companies and disruptive innovators have delivered in recent years.
As billionaire fortunes continue to oscillate with market shifts, legal rulings and economic trends, Musk’s wealth trajectory remains a focal point for discussions on wealth concentration, economic policy, and the role of technology leaders in shaping the global financial landscape.
