The landscape of global wealth has reached a new milestone, with Elon Musk achieving an unprecedented financial peak. According to the latest data from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI), the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has seen his fortune climb to a staggering $648 billion as of Wednesday, December 17, 2025. This surge makes him the first person in history to be worth more than $600 billion.
SpaceX Valuation Launch Propels Musk to Historic Wealth
The dramatic increase in Musk's net worth is directly tied to a sharp rise in the valuation of his private aerospace company, SpaceX. Earlier in December, SpaceX launched a tender offer that valued the rocket firm at approximately $800 billion, a significant jump from its $400 billion valuation in August 2026. This deal alone added an estimated $168 billion to Musk's wealth, with his net worth reportedly touching as high as $677 billion at one point on Monday.
Musk owns an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, which is now his most valuable asset, with about $336 billion of his wealth tied to the company. Beyond SpaceX, his portfolio includes leadership of electric vehicle giant Tesla and ownership of the artificial intelligence and social media firm xAI. His rapid wealth accumulation has sparked intense speculation that he could become the world's first trillionaire if his companies continue their current trajectory.
Nigerian Industrial Titans Advance on Global Stage
While Elon Musk dominates the top of the list, Nigeria's business leaders have also posted impressive gains, strengthening the country's presence among the world's wealthiest individuals. Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, saw his fortune grow by about $1.93 billion year-to-date, bringing his estimated net worth to $30 billion. This improvement moves him to the 75th position globally.
Similarly, fellow Nigerian industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu experienced a substantial increase, adding roughly $5.3 billion to his wealth this year. His current net worth stands at $8.45 billion, earning him the 427th spot in the worldwide billionaire rankings. The gains for both Dangote and Rabiu are largely attributed to their expansive industrial holdings, underscoring the growing value and global competitiveness of Nigeria's manufacturing and energy sectors.
Starlink's Rapid Growth in the Nigerian Market
In related news, another of Elon Musk's ventures is making significant inroads in Nigeria. Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has rapidly become Nigeria's second-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP), according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Despite its premium pricing, Starlink's subscriber base in Nigeria more than doubled, growing from 23,897 in 2023 to 65,564 by the end of 2024, demonstrating strong market demand for reliable connectivity across the country.
The latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index top ten reflects the concentration of wealth in technology and innovation:
- Elon Musk: $638bn
- Larry Page: $265bn
- Sergey Brin: $246bn
- Jeff Bezos: $246bn
- Larry Ellison: $238bn
- Mark Zuckerberg: $229bn
- Bernard Arnault: $202bn
- Steve Ballmer: $166bn
- Jensen Huang: $153bn
- Warren Buffett: $152bn
This financial update highlights not only the record-breaking achievements of global tech entrepreneurs but also the resilient growth of Nigeria's leading industrialists, pointing to a dynamic and evolving global economy where African business leaders are steadily climbing the ranks.
