Rockets to brain implants: The many ventures that made Elon Musk world's first trillionaire

The share price increase valued the company at $2.21 trillion. Musk, who is also Tesla’s chief executive and one of its largest shareholders, now has an estimated net worth of $1.1 trillion, according to Forbes.

From manufacturing electric vehicles to developing technology that links computers and the human brain, Musk’s business interests stretch across several industries. His portfolio also includes tunnel construction projects and ownership of the social media platform X.

Many of these ventures have gradually become more closely connected. One of the biggest changes came earlier this year when Musk brought together SpaceX and his artificial intelligence company, xAI, under a single corporate structure.

He continues to serve as chief executive at several companies, while also holding a range of other leadership positions and ownership interests.

Among its biggest assets is Starlink, the satellite internet service that brought in $4.4 billion in operating income last year.

The company also controls X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. Musk acquired it for $44 billion in 2022, then placed it under xAI, the company behind the Grok chatbot. Both xAI and X recorded operating losses last year, with the artificial intelligence firm posting a $6.4 billion loss.

Although SpaceX suffered an overall operating loss of $2.6 billion last year, investor interest helped it achieve the largest initial public offering ever. On Friday, its shares finished trading at just under $161 each, giving the company a market value of about $2.1 trillion.

In 2025, China’s BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s biggest electric vehicle manufacturer. Tesla’s sales were also affected by consumer boycotts linked to Musk’s political views.

Tesla’s ambitions extend beyond cars. The company has expanded its work on household and commercial robots. It has also been active in solar energy since acquiring SolarCity about a decade ago. Notably, SolarCity was founded by Musk and two of his cousins.

After listing on the stock market in 2010, Tesla eventually crossed the trillion-dollar valuation mark and joined the S&P 500’s most valuable companies. Its market capitalisation is currently around $1.5 trillion.

The company is among several organisations trying to develop technology that allows direct communication between the human nervous system and machines. It has begun clinical studies involving people living with spinal cord injuries and other medical conditions.

Over the past few years, Neuralink and, at times, Musk himself have announced several brain implant procedures. In January, the company said it had 21 participants enrolled in trials worldwide.

One of its best-known projects is the “Vegas Loop”, a network of underground tunnels designed for Tesla vehicles. The system first opened near the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2021.

The company has faced allegations of failing to meet certain safety and environmental standards in Las Vegas, where the full network remains incomplete. ‘

The sales earned Musk roughly $200 million, money that later helped him launch SpaceX and invest in Tesla.

With inputs from Associated Press