Supreme Court ruling restores disputed compensation
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s net worth surged to an estimated $749 billion late Friday after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated Tesla stock options valued at about $139 billion, according to the Forbes billionaires index.
The ruling restored Musk’s controversial 2018 compensation package, which was once valued at $56 billion before Tesla’s stock rally dramatically increased its worth. A lower court had voided the deal last year, calling it “unfathomable,” but the Supreme Court overturned that decision, saying the earlier ruling had been improper and inequitable to Musk.
The decision marks a major legal and financial victory for the Tesla chief, ending a prolonged dispute over executive pay that had drawn global attention.
Greater control over Tesla at stake
The restored stock options give Musk the opportunity to significantly increase his influence over Tesla, a concern he has repeatedly described as more important than personal wealth.
If Musk exercises all the options from the 2018 package, his stake in Tesla would rise from roughly 12.4% to about 18.1% of an expanded share base. Tesla plans to issue additional shares linked to his newer compensation arrangement, though Musk must first meet strict performance targets to earn them.
The Supreme Court ruling strengthens Musk’s position as Tesla continues to expand beyond electric vehicles into artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous technologies.
Shareholders back record-breaking pay plans
The court decision comes after Tesla shareholders recently approved a new pay package that could be worth as much as $878 billion if the company achieves ambitious market and operational milestones.
In November, investors separately endorsed a $1 trillion compensation plan for Musk, the largest corporate pay package in history. Shareholders backed the deal as a vote of confidence in Musk’s long-term vision to transform Tesla into a dominant force in AI-driven manufacturing and robotics.
Supporters argue that Musk’s unconventional leadership and high-risk strategy have delivered exceptional returns, while critics continue to question the scale of his compensation.
Musk breaks new wealth records
Earlier this week, Musk became the first individual in history to surpass a net worth of $600 billion. His wealth climbed sharply following reports that his aerospace company SpaceX was preparing for a potential initial public offering, further boosting investor optimism.
With his fortune now estimated at $749 billion, Musk has widened the gap between himself and other global billionaires. According to Forbes, his wealth exceeds that of Google co-founder Larry Page, the world’s second-richest person, by nearly $500 billion.
The latest surge cements Musk’s status as the wealthiest individual ever recorded, underscoring how legal decisions, shareholder support and ambitious corporate bets continue to reshape the upper limits of personal wealth.
