Elon Musk Reclaims the Title of World's Richest, Adding $46 Billion in Just One Month

The world of the super-wealthy has once again been shaken as Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly known as Twitter), has managed to reclaim his position as the richest person in the world. This milestone comes with a jaw-dropping $46 billion increase in his net worth within just one month.

Despite Tesla’s report of its weakest financial quarter since 2021, Musk’s assets have continued to soar due to his holdings in various ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, X, and his latest venture in artificial intelligence, xAI.

As of May 2025, Musk’s estimated net worth stands at a staggering $386.5 billion, according to Forbes. The increase in his wealth is largely attributed to a 7% surge in Tesla’s stock price in April, a sharp rebound that significantly boosted his personal fortune. While the company has faced financial difficulties, particularly in the past quarter, the stock market has proven to be volatile yet lucrative for Musk’s holdings, helping him surpass other tech billionaires.

But Musk isn’t the only one reaping the benefits of the fluctuating market. Several other billionaires have seen their fortunes rise in April 2025, following a major breakthrough in US-China trade relations. The agreement to reduce tariffs between the two global economic giants has resulted in a dramatic uptick in the stock market, with major companies such as Tesla, Amazon, Meta, and Apple seeing significant gains.

Amancio Ortega, the Spanish fashion magnate and founder of Zara, also experienced a substantial increase in his wealth, with a $9 billion boost to his fortune, now totaling $123.3 billion. His success was propelled by the rising value of shares in Inditex, the parent company of Zara, combined with a stronger Euro. While Musk’s wealth surged by $46 billion, Ortega’s rise in fortune serves as another testament to the power of global trade agreements and the volatility of the stock market.

Among the tech elite, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, also saw an increase of $14 billion in his wealth, while Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg added $16 billion to his fortune, highlighting the powerful impact of the global stock market rally. Both Bezos and Zuckerberg’s companies have strong ties to China, and the reduction in tariffs between the US and China has had a direct positive effect on their bottom lines.

The surge in Musk’s wealth was not just the result of the rising stock prices. It was also fueled by Tesla’s market capitalization reaching new heights, which enabled Musk to retain his position as the world’s richest individual. With 12% of Tesla’s shares still in his possession and an upcoming judgment on a $50 billion stock-based compensation package, Musk stands to become even wealthier in the near future if this compensation deal is approved.

As significant as Musk’s gains have been, the losses faced by other major billionaires in April 2025 have also made headlines. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, experienced a steep drop in his net worth, losing $9.3 billion after a 5% drop in Meta’s stock price. Jeff Bezos, too, saw his wealth shrink by $5.3 billion as Amazon’s stock lost 4% of its value.

However, the biggest financial loss came from Bernard Arnault, the French luxury goods mogul and chairman of LVMH. Arnault saw his wealth drop by nearly $15 billion after LVMH reported disappointing quarterly earnings. A significant decrease in sales in the US and Asia (excluding Japan) contributed to the decline in LVMH’s stock value, which dropped by over 15%.

Despite the setbacks faced by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, the overall wealth of the top 10 billionaires has increased by $40 billion, reaching a combined total of $1.77 trillion. This demonstrates the resilience of the ultra-rich in times of market instability.

While stock indices like the Nasdaq saw moderate increases of 0.7%, other indices like the S&P 500 saw a slight decrease of 1.1%. Nevertheless, the positive reaction to global trade agreements and the subsequent rise in tech stock prices has been enough to ensure that the world’s wealthiest individuals continue to thrive.

The fluctuations in the fortunes of these billionaires are largely tied to the performance of their respective companies. As the stock market continues to react to political and economic decisions, the future of these tech giants remains uncertain. While the future of Musk’s wealth seems assured, especially with his continued leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, the broader landscape for the world’s billionaires remains one of unpredictability.

The events of April 2025 serve as a stark reminder of the volatility of the stock market and the immense influence that global trade policies can have on the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

With the recent US-China trade agreement serving as a catalyst for the market rally, it is clear that the wealth of these billionaires is not just the result of their companies' performances but also of the political decisions made on a global scale.

Musk’s wealth has soared, but so too has the wealth of those around him, including Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Ortega. The billionaire class is thriving, yet their wealth continues to be a topic of controversy, especially as the disparities between the ultra-wealthy and the rest of society continue to widen.

As we move further into 2025, the battle for the top spot on the billionaire list remains fierce. Elon Musk may have reclaimed his crown as the richest person in the world, but the dynamic nature of global economics and trade policies means that his position is never guaranteed.

The volatility of the market, combined with the influence of figures like Musk, Bezos, and Ortega, will continue to shape the landscape of wealth and power for the foreseeable future.

Ultimately, the rise and fall of these individuals serve as a reminder of the intricacies of global finance and the role that political decisions, such as the US-China trade agreement, play in the fortunes of the wealthiest individuals. Musk may have added $46 billion to his wealth in just one month, but the ever-changing nature of the market ensures that no one’s financial position is ever truly secure.

As the year progresses, we will continue to watch the wealth of these billionaires evolve, with the possibility of more shifts in the rankings and further shifts in the balance of global power. The future of the world’s wealthiest individuals remains as unpredictable as ever, but for now, Elon Musk remains on top.