As of February 2026, Elon Musk’s net worth has surged past $800 billion, primarily due to the merger of SpaceX and xAI. With the anticipated mid-2026 SpaceX IPO on the horizon, all eyes are on Musk’s potential to become the first trillionaire.
Market Predictions
The odds of Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire before 2027 have risen to 72%, according to Polymarket. Meanwhile, the likelihood of a SpaceX IPO before 2027 stands at 86%. These predictions underscore the significant interest and anticipation surrounding Musk’s potential trillionaire status and the upcoming IPO.
How a SpaceX IPO Creates a Trillionaire
SpaceX is currently valued at approximately $1 trillion following its merger with xAI. However, analysts expect a public offering to seek a valuation closer to $1.5 trillion, fueled by the near-monopoly of Starlink and the successful Starship flight cadences. As Musk owns around 42% of SpaceX, a successful IPO could easily propel him past the trillionaire mark.
Groundbreaking Tesla Pay Package
Even if the SpaceX IPO doesn’t push Musk over the trillionaire threshold, he has a substantial safety net in the form of his 2025 Tesla pay package. This “Mars-shot” deal grants him additional shares tied to aggressive milestones, including an $8.5 trillion Tesla valuation and the deployment of 1 million humanoid robots. If he meets all the targets, this package could be worth nearly $1 trillion on its own.
Records to Break
Musk is poised to break two significant records:
1. The “Share of GDP” Record: John D. Rockefeller
In 1937, John D. Rockefeller’s fortune represented approximately 1.5% of US GDP. At his peak, in 1913, his $900m fortune accounted for 3% of US GDP. With a net worth of $852 billion, Musk currently accounts for 2.7% of US GDP. Reaching the $1 trillion mark would push his wealth to roughly 3.2% of US GDP, surpassing Rockefeller’s record.
2. The “Inflation-Adjusted” Record: Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa, the 14th-century emperor of Mali, controlled half the world’s gold supply and is considered the richest person in history. If SpaceX completes its potential $1.5 trillion IPO, Musk’s wealth would surpass Mansa Musa’s, not only in documented wealth but also in scope. Musk is building the infrastructure to access the resources of an entire solar system, whereas Mansa Musa controlled half of one planet’s gold.