Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos: Who Has the Higher Net Worth?
Written by
Caitlyn Moorhead
Edited by
Ashleigh Ray
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The battle for the title of the world’s richest person is often a hot topic, especially in the era of tech billionaires and the ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs). Two prominent names in this category are Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Both have amassed unimaginable wealth, assets and liabilities through their respective ventures in the United States and beyond, making them stand out even among the richest people on the planet. Here’s how Musk and Bezos compare when it comes to their net worth.
Musk vs. Bezos: Net Worth Quick Take
When it comes to how net worth is calculated (simply subtract the total value of liabilities from the total value of assets), the fortunes of the richest men in the world can fluctuate frequently. However, they still put your reasonable wealth management and financial goals to shame. Here are a few key takeaways about the estimated wealth of both Bezos and Musk:
- Elon Musk’s estimated net worth: $476 billion
- Jeff Bezos’ estimated net worth: $245 billion
- Musk is currently ranked as the No. 1 richest person in the world. Bezos is currently ranked as the fourth richest person in the world, coming in behind Musk, Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg.
Elon Musk: The Serial Entrepreneur
Musk’s wealth journey is nothing short of spectacular. The CEO of multiple high-profile companies, his portfolio includes Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company, among others. Each of these ventures has seen considerable success in its domain.
Tesla, for instance, has transformed the electric vehicle market, pushing these vehicles to mainstream consumers and achieving unprecedented market valuations for an automaker. Similarly, SpaceX has revolutionized space transportation, achieving milestones like the reusable Falcon 9 rocket and embarking on missions to potentially colonize Mars.
As CEO of Tesla, Musk’s net worth has seen wild fluctuations, primarily due to the stock performance. Whenever Tesla’s stock price has surged, so has Musk’s net worth, propelling him multiple times to the position of the world’s richest individual, where he currently sits.
Though he is a controversial figure, he recently exited the world of politics, where he was previously appointed by President Trump as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for what turned out to be a short period of time. It was not an elected position, but Musk’s tenure still created turbulent times for federal employees.
Jeff Bezos: The E-commerce Titan
Bezos, on the other hand, built his fortune primarily through Amazon, the e-commerce platform he founded in 1994. Starting as an online bookstore, Amazon soon expanded its offerings, eventually becoming the “everything store.” Today, it’s a global marketplace, cloud computing powerhouse through Amazon Web Services and an entertainment giant via Amazon Prime Video.
Bezos’s wealth has been more stable compared to Musk’s, largely due to the consistent growth and dominance of Amazon in multiple sectors. Although he stepped down as the CEO of Amazon in July 2021, Bezos’ stake in the company ensures his net worth remains formidable. In addition to Amazon, Bezos owns the Washington Post and Blue Origin, a spaceflight company with goals that rival Musk’s SpaceX in areas of long-term space exploration and colonization.
Is Musk or Bezos Richer?
Determining the richest between Musk and Bezos is tricky because their net worths fluctuate based on stock prices, investments and business decisions. At certain points and currently, Musk has surpassed Bezos, especially during Tesla stock surges. At other times, Bezos has regained the title due to Amazon’s consistent performance and growth.
However, it’s essential to note that net worth is a volatile measure, especially for high-net-worth individuals whose wealth is significantly tied to the stock market. A minor change in stock prices can translate to billions of dollars in gains or losses for both Musk and Bezos.
As of this writing, Musk has an estimated net worth of $476 billion. Bezos has an estimated net worth of $245 billion. Therefore, right now, Musk takes the top spot.
Final Take To GO: More Than Just Numbers
While the race for the top spot can be intriguing, it’s worth noting that both Musk and Bezos have contributed immensely to technological advancements, business models and innovations that have shaped the 21st century. Their impact goes beyond mere wealth accumulation, so it’ll be interesting to see what, if anything, they do with that financial power.
The title of the world’s richest person, whether held by Musk or Bezos, remains in flux due to the ever-changing dynamics of the stock market and business world. While their wealth is fascinating, it’s their vast contributions to technology, commerce and space exploration — and perhaps politics — that will leave a lasting legacy.
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