Elon Musk breaks the $800 billion barrier after SpaceX–xAI mega merger

Elon Musk has smashed yet another wealth record, becoming the first person in history to cross a net worth of $800 billion, after a landmark merger between his rocket company SpaceX and artificial intelligence firm xAI supercharged his fortune.

According to Forbes, the deal values the combined SpaceX–xAI entity at a staggering $1.25 trillion, pushing Musk’s personal wealth up by $84 billion to around $852 billion.

The merger has reshaped Musk’s empire. He now owns about 43% of the newly combined company, a stake estimated to be worth $542 billion, cementing SpaceX as the crown jewel of his holdings. Before the deal, Musk held a 42% stake in SpaceX, valued at roughly $336 billion, and a 49% stake in xAI, worth about $122 billion. With SpaceX absorbing xAI, the rocket maker has surged ahead as Musk’s single most valuable asset.

Tesla Still a Heavyweight

Despite SpaceX’s dominance, Tesla remains a major contributor to Musk’s wealth. He owns roughly 12% of the electric vehicle maker, valued at about $178 billion, along with stock options worth another $124 billion.


These figures do not include Musk’s controversial, record-breaking pay package approved by Tesla shareholders in November. If Tesla achieves its ambitious “Mars shot” targets — including an eightfold increase in market capitalisation over the next decade — the package could eventually hand Musk up to $1 trillion in additional stock.

Second Big Merger in Under a Year

The SpaceX–xAI deal marks the second major merger involving Musk’s companies in less than a year. In March last year, he merged xAI with his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion.

That transaction, in which Musk effectively acted as both buyer and seller, drew scrutiny over valuation transparency. With SpaceX now expected to go public later this year, investors will soon get a clearer view of how the market values Musk’s fast-expanding universe.

Four Wealth Milestones in Four Months

Musk’s climb to the top has been nothing short of meteoric:

• October 2025: Became the first person to reach $500 billion, after stepping away from President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to refocus on Tesla
• December 15: Crossed $600 billion following a sharp jump in SpaceX’s valuation to $800 billion
• December 19: Hit $700 billion after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated his Tesla stock options
• February 2026: Surpassed $800 billion, powered by the SpaceX–xAI merger