Elon Musk edges out Bill Gates to become the world's second-richest person

The entrepreneur's net worth soared $7.2bn to $127.9bn, driven by another surge in Tesla's share price

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has overtaken Bill Gates as the world's second-richest person. AFP

Elon Musk’s year of dizzying ascents hit a new apex on Monday as the Tesla co-founder passed Bill Gates to become the world’s second-richest person.

The 49-year-old entrepreneur’s net worth soared $7.2 billion to $127.9bn, driven by yet another surge in Tesla’s share price. Mr Musk has added $100.3bn to his net worth this year, the most of anyone on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which ranks the world’s 500 richest people. In January, he ranked 35th.

His advance up the wealth ranks has been driven largely by Tesla, whose market value is approaching $500bn. About three-quarters of his net worth is comprised of Tesla shares, which are valued more than four times as much as his stake in Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX.

Mr Musk’s milestone marks only the second time in the index’s eight-year history that Mr Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has ranked lower than number two. He held the top spot for years before being bumped by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos in 2017. Mr Gates’ net worth of $127.7bn would be much higher had he not donated so prodigiously to charity over the years. He has given more than $27bn to his namesake foundation since 2006.

Top 10 richest people

With Monday’s move, Mr Musk unseats an occasional verbal sparring partner in Mr Gates, who the Tesla billionaire has ridiculed on Twitter for, among other things, having “no clue” about electric trucks. The two have also traded barbs over Covid-19.

Mr Gates, whose charitable foundation is one of the pre-eminent bodies backing vaccine research, has expressed concern over Mr Musk’s stated suspicion of pandemic data and embrace of certain conspiracy theories.

The year has been a lucrative one for the world’s richest people. Despite the pandemic and widespread layoffs that have disproportionately affected the world’s working class and poor, the members of the Bloomberg index have collectively gained 23 per cent – or $1.3 trillion – since the year began.

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Tesla Cybertruck - in pictures

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  People take pictures of the newly unveiled Cybertruck in 2019. The vehicle's release to the market in 2021 was delayed by at least two years. AFP

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  The Cybertruck was originally priced at $39,900 in 2019 - but inflationary prices have pushed other Tesla vehicles up in cost. AFP

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  Mr Musk stands in front of Cybertruck, after a metal ball was thrown at the windows to show how tough they are. Tesla / Reuters

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  Mr Musk discusses vehicle dimensions in front of the Cybertruck. AFP

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  The Tesla Cybertruck is unveiled at Tesla's design studio. AP